by Washington Washington
I’m gonna be straight with you folks, the Handcrafted Cookie Company is freaking awesome. For a little over a year now (it opened on January 27, 2009), owners Chad and Theresa Williams have been serving up their signature cookies and doughs as well as a collection of sweet homemade treats such as sticky buns, mini gourmet cakes, brownies, macaroons, and meringues, not to mention their vast selection of tasty teas served iced, hot, and in “bubble” form (a Thai-style beverage that contains a tea base mixed with fruit, or fruit syrup, and/or milk and also contains tapioca balls).
A major facet of the HCC is their passion and commitment to healthy and natural, eco-friendly living. It has led them to the development of their natural cookie dough creations, to choose packaging made from recycled materials and green shipping options, and to offer organic, fair trade coffees, teas and other café beverages. Their hope is to provide customers with cookies made with high quality natural ingredients and delicious and unique flavors that can be home-baked to one’s own personal standards. These delectable treats are sans dubious additives, preservatives, partially hydrogenated oils (trans fats), or high fructose corn syrup.
I recently stopped by the HCC to chat with Chad Williams. He’s been cooking professionally since the age of 15 and has a culinary degree from Johnson & Wales University. He and his wife have long had ambitions to own and operate a restaurant, so the HCC materialized as a way to test their skills, patience, and ability to work with one another. Williams said, “This was something where we could get our feet wet, work our day jobs, and figure out if we could do it without killing each other. And so far, we’ve collaborated well.”
Williams claims, “I hate to admit it, but she (Theresa) is the creative force. I have the technique, but she’s the one who has come up with just about all of things that we offer.” And what they offer is a cookie lover’s dream: Sixteen signature cookie varieties, original Handcrafted Cookie Dough Pops, cookie cakes, cookie crust cheesecakes, molten cookie pies, and custom cookie gifts, favors and platters.
The many varieties offer a little something for just about everyone, so please have a look at them all on their website – http://www.thehandcraftedcookiecompany.com. Below, I have highlighted one particular variety from each of the four flavor groupings: Chocolate, Classic, Oatmeal, and Sugar…
Chocolate Hotties – Little kicks of fiery jalapeno in a rich chocolate cookie, mellowed by the coolness of smooth, white chocolate chips.
Honey Nutsies - Honey-kissed cookies chock-full of roasted pecans, almonds and walnuts, and topped with a pistachio dusting- a rich, salty-sweet pleasure.
Blueberry Bliss Oatmeal – Sweet dried blueberries and creamy white chocolate chips swirled together in an oatmeal cookie.
Raspberry Mint – A refreshing combination of tangy raspberry preserves and minty freshness enveloped in a warm sugar cookie.
There’s a lot to like about the HCC: variety, good principles, convenience, and quality. As for business in general, Williams said, “So far so good. We’re very happy with where we’re at right now.” And that my friends is a very good thing… Consider it Phoenixville’s premiere patisserie!



Alright, now down to the nitty gritty… Sal’s crust is very similar to Mimmo’s, it’s a thin crust, slightly crispy and very light. The sauce is sweet with hints of parsley and basil and balances nicely with the saltiness of the cheese. Overall, everything works together deliciously. Maybe it was me, but the large pie didn’t seem so large and I easily housed the three-slice MAN-imum. Sal’s pie is a little bit pricier than most, but it’s TOTALLY worth it. Hands down one of the best pies in town and worth the drive for pick up (remember, beer selection.)
Blink and you might miss it, but try it once and you won’t soon forget it. Phoenixville’s newest sandwicherie, 

Kevin, the cook usually working on football Sundays, takes his wings personally. I learned this the hard way and it is a lesson I am truly grateful for. The waiter smiled smugly when I ordered six of their “hottest” wings. The wings came out smothered in a deadly looking black sauce that wafted an eye-watering gas composed of cayenne and habenero peppers. I asked him what they were, because I had not seen wings this dark at the Bistro before. He asked if they were going to be too hot for me. “No,” I said with cocky certainty, “I’ll be fine.”
The
On the corner of First Ave. and Gay St. lies a hidden gem in the Borough of Phoenixville. No, not the funky stucco house that always has some sort of free oddity available to any ambulatory passerby (a computer monitor from 1984 perhaps? Some rain soaked paperbacks maybe?).
by the smell of the makings of a great sandwich and Jim Wasko, a Mont Clare native, who opened the shop two years ago. When asked how he happened to open the shop, I was in receipt of an interesting story…

