HOOD RIVER — “If I had a long-term vision for my career, it would be maintaining those flavors that are just iconic and authentic,” said Lindsay Gott, whose career has taken her around the world, and through many different paths.
After training at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, Gott returned to the Bay Area for a year at Chez Panisse, which she considered her second year of culinary school. When life brought Gott to the Gorge in 2001, she worked for Polly’s Cakes and then opened South Bank Kitchen, now Boda’s Kitchen. She later started Gâteaux, a take and bake cake company.
“I really started to miss being in front of customers,” said Gott. From that desire was born Mookie, a bright pink milk, cookie and ice cream sandwich trailer situated at the Hood River waterfront. Mookie is open Tuesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is all about fresh cookies that highlight the real ingredients.
“I believe indulgence is an important part of life,” said Gott.
“Joy” is the goal for Mookie customers. “We’re here for little indulgences,” she said. “We use all-butter in our cookies [so] it tastes like your grandmother used to make.”
All the cookies are baked fresh daily at their prep kitchen in Hood River in two or three batches per day to make sure the cookies are as fresh as possible for Mookie customers.
At Mookie, you can pair any of the cookie flavors, including the gluten free Kitchen Sink cookie with vanilla ice cream to make an ice cream sandwich, and cleanse the palate with a specialty milk. Gott said choosing a favorite flavor “is like Sophie’s Choice,” said Gott.
“It’s been wonderful to be part of the Hood River community,” said Gott. “I know all these chefs and food entrepreneurs. Everything from brick and mortar downtown Hood River, to wholesale, and now my own little cart again. It feels like a trip around the world,” she concluded.
Find Mookie at the Hood River waterfront behind Ferment Brewing Co., and visit mookiehoodriver.com or their Instagram @mookie_hoodriver for more information. Mookie also does larger custom orders and boxes which can be ordered at the cart, or by calling 541-965-5701.
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