Best Chocolate Chip Cookies???

Apparently these chocolate chip cookies have garnered "BEST CCC" awards…this is the kind of thing that google was invented for.

So I tried out the recipe and…well, they are good but I am not sure they deserve the acclaim. Maybe I need to buy the special "disks" of chocolate and that they call for but I couldn't make my way to NY, where Jacques Torres sells them.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/dining/09chip.html

However, some highlights were the 36 hour dough-wait period. And they are pretty yum straight from the oven and with the salt on top. Sweet and salty is a sure-fire winner.
I have done more research since and there are recipes out there tweaking it with oatmeal and orange zest. I am going to give that a shot and report back later on whether or not it is an improved cookie.

In the meantime here is the recipe…

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Adapted from Jacques Torres

2 cups minus 2 tablespoons
(8 1/2 ounces) cake flour
1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
1 1/4 pounds bittersweet chocolate disks or fèves, at least 60 percent cacao content
Sea salt.

1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.
2. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.
3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.
4. Scoop preferred size of cookie (1 tablespoon) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day.