OST - No chocolate chip on my shoulder

I walked into OST on ave A ate. 12 th (referred to me by someone who works at Waffles and Dinges) and noticed some pretty good looking chocolate chip cookies. When you're broke and hungry, fantasizing about food becomes a major preoccupation. Food fantasies begin to rival sex fantasies. Especially in a city like New York where great food is everywhere.

I first spoke with Dan who explained to me that OST means east in German. "They are trying to go for an eastern european feel". Looking around i would say that it had a kind of boho upmarket or punk chic feel to it.

I said i noticed their coffee which is 'Intelligentsia' and is marketed as direct trade. "Is that like fair trade?" i asked. "fair trade is an international minimum wage; direct trade works directly with farmers and pays above fair trade, about 40 % above regular wages," Dan said.

I didn't mean to contradict Dan, but there are fair trade brands that work directly with farmers as well.

What is 'Intelligentsia' i asked. "They are a rotisserie from Chicago."

I then spoke with Katarina, part owner with husband Aaron. "Where did the eastern european theme come from?"
"I am from Slovakia. We wanted to create something resembling coffee shops in eastern europe like Budapest with a bohemian feel where people can sit and talk and read; for intellectual types like literary coffee shops, " Katarina said. Indeed there is a whole rack of magazines.

Balthazar provides their breakfast pastry and the Hungarian Pastry shop supplies other pastry. Westville supplies the cookies.

I tried the dessert that consisted of 2 chocolate chip cookies stuffed with Nutella. No chocolate chip on my shoulder. And an iced mocha.

They also have wifi except for weekends during the day when they are trying to encourage a more social atmosphere.

I asked Dan whether the cocoa used is also direct trade and he said that he believes it is also supplied by Intelligentsia.

Justice indeed can be sweet.

"We wanted to serve quality coffee and be responsible and local," she added.