Historical December 1984 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
For this exclusive interview with the newly crowned Cookie King of Skinker-DeBaliviere, The Times went to the kitchen of Marvin J. Nodiff, winner against some dozen competitors, of the first annual Skinker-DeBaliviere Chocolate Chip Cookie Bake-Off, held November 17. Times: How is it that a reserved attorney also has kitchen skills? Nodiff: It’s great therapy to ease the tension of law practice.
It also supplements my income. Actually, I’ve been messing around in the kitchen since bachelorhood, when it was always a choice between starving and ptomaine. Times: How did you get started on this cookie business? Nodiff: I’ve always been fond of chocolate chip cookies, almost to addiction.
But I couldn’t find a supply of truly great cookies at a reasonable price to satisfy demand.
So I started tinkering on my own. Times: Now to the heart of the matter. Do you have a secret recipe? Nodiff: Actually, no. I think Nestle’s Tollhouse recipe is the best starting point.
And I’ve tried them all.
But the key is that you must have quality ingredients, proper technique, and a few modifications in the right places. Times: Such as? Nodiff: Such as lightly salted butter—the real stuff, not mere margerine.
And it has to be very soft. Real vanilla is a must, and I double the portion. Non-stick cookie sheets of medium weight and proper location in the oven are critical to avoid uneven baking. And, depending on my altitude at the time, I vary the flour to ensure proper consistency, viscosity, and color. Then I sling a spoonful of batter on the wall—if it sticks, I’m ready to bake. Times: And that’s it? Nodiff: Well, not totally. I use a wooden spoon my grandmother gave me.
It was made in Kiev at the turn of the century, and my grandmother sneaked it out of Russia at a time of great unrest there, when the Bolsheviks were taking over and burning such vestiges of capitalism.
The spoon soaked up so much borscht during its life that it gives the cookies a unique flavor. Times: How does it feel to win the first Bake-Off? Has it changed your life? Nodiff: In a broader sense, it’s a giant leap for the men of Skinker-DeBaliviere.
It renews the spirit of the Men’s Liberation Bake Sale.
It sends a message, I think, encouraging other men to cast aside their inhibitions.
After all, most good cooks are women, but the great chefs of the world are men.
Original photograph caption
The Cookie King pictured above the teaser for “Macho Menu: An Interview with the Cookie King.” The accompanying reports identify the winner as Marvin J. Nodiff. The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, December 1984, page 1. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, December 1984.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1984_12.pdf, printed page(s) 1, 6; PDF page(s) 1, 6.
