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Darren Ornitz, one of the three founders behind American Pressed Bakery, said the Dutch-inspired waffle Strooples they laboriously cook daily combine their passions for cookies and travel, which is why this cookie has a distinctly international flair.
"We're all about global awareness and informing people of what's going on in countries they may not even think about," said Ornitz, who founded the company with brother Erik and friend Jimmy Cabrera. The story behind American Pressed Bakery could be cribbed from "The Social Network:" Erik Ornitz began making the waffle cookies out of his dorm room at Brown University for friends. When he returned from school, the trio decided to develop the cookies into a marketable brand called Strooples.
The traditional Dutch cookies are made from sugary dough baked on a waffle iron with a sandwiched layer of caramel. They worked for months to create the perfect cookie.
"We are constantly revising recipes from feedback from customers," said Cabrera. "We're creating a brand here, so perfecting is essential. Everything is homemade, and we wanted to keep that intact in the taste."
The cookies are sold exclusively at Porricelli's Market on Arcadia Road in Old Greenwich at $2.99 each. They come in four flavors: Dutch Traditional, English Toffee, American Chocolate Chip and Brazilian Coconut. Cabrera said they hope to perfect additional flavors such as Ethiopian Coffee or Turkish Almond.
"The cookie theme is where we can bring in our actual passions," said Darren. "We hope to identify a charity in each country we've taken flavors from and donate a portion of sales' proceeds."
The business owners are thinking global but are starting their charitable efforts close to home by donating to Community Centers Inc., a nonprofit social service agency that promotes the personal and social potential of members of the Greenwich community who may be isolated because of economic status or special needs.
The threesome grew up in Greenwich and said it was an obvious place to start their business. "It's a good market to develop our brand and get the word out," said Darren. "We know a lot of people in the community, and they've been incredibly supportive."
Have you tried a Stroople? Which flavor is your favorite? Leave a comment below!
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