The cafeteria chocolate chip cookie: God’s gift to Niles West.

To put it plainly, there is nothing in the cafeteria I love more than the delectable, mouthwatering, heaven-sent chocolate chip cookie; it knocks every other cafeteria food out of the park. From the cafeteria pizza to the chicken tenders, no food comes close to the level of the cookie. This doesn’t just apply to Niles West food, though. I find the school cookie better than Crumbl or Insomnia cookies and substantially better than cookies from chain restaurants such as Corner Bakery and Panera Bread.

If you have never tried the school cookie, don’t call yourself a Niles West student. Beloved by everybody, the school cookie is the most popular item in the cafeteria. Junior year, tragically, I had seventh-period lunch, and all the cookies were long gone by that point—but for a good reason.

It’s a well-known fact that the students of Niles West love the cafeteria cookie. When I went around the school to ask students about the cookie, I couldn’t find a single person who had a negative opinion to share. On the other hand, there were a plethora of students who were enthusiastic to share their thoughts on the legendary school cookie. So why is the school cookie so loved by students?

Thea Tamondong and Olivia Pukal are two seniors who share a love for the school cookie. Of course, when spotted in the cafeteria, they were both carrying their cookies.

“The school cookie is not as sweet as Crumbl, it’s perfectly balanced. It’s chewy and soft—if you pick the right one,” Tamondong said.

Pukal agreed and added, ”[Tamondong] takes a while to pick her cookie.”

Just like Tamondong, I love the thrill of getting a slightly different cookie each day—although no cafeteria cookie is a bad cookie.

Sophomore Wassim Mahfoudi might almost be the biggest fan of the school cookie, second to me, of course. Mahfoudi was thrilled to express his thoughts on the cookie when prompted.

“The school cookie is really milky and chocolatey, it’s really good. It’s mouthwatering and I feel like it’s a really good cookie. It’s way better than Crumbl and Insomnia. Those are both expensive, overrated and overpriced. [The school cookie] is the perfect size, the perfect taste,” Mahfoudi said.

Mahfoudi makes a good point when it comes to price. The cafeteria cookie retails for just $2.00, while a chocolate chip cookie from Crumbl Cookies costs $4.99—not including tax. Cookies from other places, such as Insomnia Cookies, Panera Bread or Corner Bakery, usually land in the $2.50-3.50 range, once again, not including tax. The school cookie is roughly the size of a Crumbl cookie, and larger than an Insomnia cookie, making it worth every cent by comparison. 

Senior Emro Perocevic is just as big of a fan of the cookie as Mahfoudi.

“I think the school cookie is pretty great. It’s a staple in the cafeteria, it’s like the only thing that’s been there for the past four years and has remained unchanged,” Perocevic said.

Similar to Mahfoudi, Perocevic finds the school cookie the best way to get the most bang for your buck, another reason the school cookie is so adored.

“I don’t really like Crumbl Cookie because it’s expensive because the cookies are horrible for you. The school cookie is very affordable and it’s not as bad for you. Also, I like talking to the lunch ladies,” Perocevic said.

Junior Michael Soto claims that the cookie is a prominent part of his daily diet.

“[The school cookie] is very good. I get it every day. Compared to other cookies that people make this one is, like, more fluffy. Honestly, sometimes I even prefer these over Crumbl cookies,” Soto said.

Like most Niles West students, I also find the school cookie flawless. Although I like the Crumbl chocolate chip cookies, I dislike how they’re warmed before being served. The fact that the school cookie is at room temperature is ideal. Additionally, cookies from popular cookie bakeries are often too sweet. In the case of Crumbl, the cookies often taste undercooked. In the case of Corner Bakery, they often taste overcooked. The school cookie is not overly sweet and is baked to the perfect gooey state, where it’s not fully cooked, but, it’s not raw. Honestly, you can’t understand until you try it for yourself. The cookie has a flavor that words truly can’t capture.

Its objective: Niles West students love the school cookie. From taste to affordability, almost every student has something positive to add about the beloved school cookie.

And, to whoever is in charge of the school mascot, it’s time to add a cafeteria cookie into Big Red’s paws.