Levain Bakery’s Cookie Queens, Connie McDonald & Pam Weekes

Today’s guests are Connie McDonald and Pam Weekes, the founders of Levain Bakery, the beloved New York bakery known for its signature thick cookies. Levain started as a small bread shop on the Upper West Side in 1995, and has since grown into one of the most recognizable bakeries in the country, with more than 20 locations and fans lined up for their famous chocolate chip walnut cookies. Connie and Pam join host Jessie Sheehan to talk about how they met while training for triathlons, how their bread business began with the support of Anthony Bourdain, and how a call from then-New York Times columnist Amanda Hesser helped put their now-iconic cookie on the map. Connie and Pam also talk about their memoir, “Levain Bakery: A Story of Friendship, Community, and Cookies,” and why community has always been at the heart of Levain. Subscribe to our Substack for more baking news and recipes. Click here to order The Game Changers Issue of Cherry Bombe Magazine. Visit cherrybombe.com for magazine subscriptions, tickets to upcoming events, and more. More on Levain: Instagram, website, "Levain Bakery" book More on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook