Kelly the Culinarian: Food find: Ghirardelli cookies

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Food find: Ghirardelli cookies

I don't know how you travel, but usually, my standard for choosing hotels is that they are clean and safe. I typically end up at a budget hotel because chances are, I'm just going to sleep there.

But Katie and I found a deal. When we got off the turnpike in Oklahoma, we were concerned; all the hotels we saw were beyond seedy and offering specials as low as $22. I'm usually not that picky, but I'm not going to stay in a motel that needs to advertise "Rattlesnake free since 2003."

So we kept driving until we got to Seventh in downtown Tulsa. The first thing I saw was the Doubletree, which looked like it was out of our budget. They had a palatial lobby and it was something like 12 stories high. There was even a wedding going on Sunday night, so I doubted we could get anything reasonable. To my surprise and delight, it was only $99 per night weekends.

I was sold.

Then there were the cookies. It's a Doubletree thing that they give you a cookie when you check in and the history is interesting. Katie and I were thrilled. They were ghirardelli chocolate chip cookies with walnuts and they were delicious. Moist, chocolately and full of a variety of texture. You can get the recipe here, but I can't vouch for it's authenticity (although I hope to try it later in the week).

Plus, the room was fabulous. Neither Katie nor I had ever stayed in a place this posh. Our beds had all kinds of goose down and high-thread count linens. We each got four down pillows and it was all set up quite nice. My only complaints was that although there were some really nice Neutrogena toiletries, when I took a shower the tub didn't drain. Kind of icky.

I don't know when I'll find a budget deal like this again, but I sure did enjoy their cookies and accommodations.

12 comments:

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

Don't know if I'd drive to Tulsa just for the cookies, but it's nice to know they're there, next time I'm passing through.

FH said...

I love the Ghirardelli chocolate,make Ice Cream too!:))

tigerfish said...

I also look for budget hotels or motels/lodges when I travel but only those that ARE safe and look safe. I think $99/night is reasonable (and considered reasonably cheap) :D

Cynthia said...

Kelly, I've stayed at Doubtree hotels before and got that cookie too! :) warm too!

daphne said...

oh, I checked the link of the hotel and it's hard to believe it's only for $99 a night!

Can't wait for u to try making the cookies soon. ;p

Jenna Z said...

Oh boy do I love my a posh hotel! We've done the Doubletree once or twice in the Chicago area, pretty swank suites! Our favorite place though is the Hotel Burnham which is Kimpton boutique hotel. Oh, so nice to be pampered!

Barbara said...

Hi Kelly did you see I gave you the schmooze award.
http://winosandfoodies.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/09/auckland-hospit.html

Taylor said...

I once got a moldy muffin at a discount hotel. I thought the mold was chocolate chips...until I bit into it. Ever since, I can't eat those cheap packaged muffins.

Keren Brown said...

I stayed at the one in Vegas and got a whole tin because we travel
a lot.

SteamyKitchen said...

I love Ghriadelli cookies!! I used to live in San Francisco and we'd go to their flagship store all the time just to eat the cookies and hot chocolate.

Mansi said...

I love walnut and choco-chip cookies!! god, and Ghiradelli is like icing on the cake:)

People St.Clair said...

I've always like the Doubletree at $99/night its on the top of my list. And the cookies too.