Why does someone have a sudden sugar attack? According to nutrition.com, sugar cravings are caused by low serotonin levels. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that brings about feelings of content and happiness. Sugar is said to increase the absorption of an amino acid, called tryptophan, which causes the body to make serotonin.

Even though satisfying your sweet tooth may seem to be the key to happiness, it is not entirely healthy to over indulge. But to give into your taste buds, Staten Island has a couple of places that do the trick.

Remember the days when you came home from school and your mother had a cup of milk and a plate of hot, fresh baked cookies? Most likely, those days are long gone. Fortunately, The Cookie Jar on Forest Avenue is the perfect substitution.

The owner of the Cake Chef Bakery on Jewett Avenue, came up with the idea to create a shop dedicated to everyone’s favorite snack. Thus, The Cookie Jar was born. The Cookie Jar has over 140 varieties of cookies, as well as brownies, red velvet cupcakes, and coffee, milk, and tea.

“Our shop is unique, not only because we specialize in cookies, but because we’re a lot more affordable than other bakeries,’ said employee, Eva Perez. “We charge only ten dollars instead of twenty dollars per pound like other bakeries.”

A big question on everyone’s mind may be: why is it called The Cookie Jar? Once you walk inside you’ll know why. The décor is, you guessed it, cookie jars. There are a myriad of jars all over the shop. The jars range from Disney to animals, to purses, to Sesame Street, and many more.

“They have a big variety of cookies that are homemade,” said Susan Yacca. “They taste delicious!”

“Without a doubt, they are the best cookies on the Island,” said secretary, Brenda Carullo.

The Cookie Jar is open from Monday through Thursday from 10 A.M. to 7 P.M. , Friday and Saturday 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. and Sunday from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M.

Satisfying your sweet tooth and beating the heat are both possible at Ralph’s Ices. Found in locations on Staten Island as well as Brooklyn, Long Island, Queens and New Jersey, Ralph’s has been serving the community for eighty-one years.

“I’ve been eating Ralph’s ever since I was a kid, for about fifty years. It’s apart of who we are as Islanders”, said local resident Marie Fanelli.

Aside from the fact that Ralph’s has been apart of the Staten island community for nearly 81 years, what draws people to Ralph’s is the enormous variety of flavors. Many, including this reporter, have found that it is extremely difficult standing in line trying to decide what to enjoy. From the water and cream ices to the twisters, to the shakes, and with about twenty flavors for each of those categories, it makes it nearly impossible to choose right away.

“My favorite is the blue Hawaii,” said freshman, Chris Smart. “Me and my friends go there all the time in the summer.”

To help you cool off this summer, and to satisfy your sweet tooth Ralph’s is open from9 A.M. to 11P.M. on Friday and Saturday and 9 A.M. to 10 P.M. on Sunday through Thursday.

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