Clothing optional…
Pick up and rock and throw it around the Seattle area and you will either hit a Tanning Salon or a Coffee Shack/Stand/Cafe. With all that competition it appears that some owners have taken on a new marketing strategy. Sex sells.
You no longer need to head to the beach to see an itsy, bisty, teeny, weeny yellow polka dot bikini….you just need to get a double shot espresso. Or a mocha. Or a vanilla latte. Or anything else they sell at your local coffee shack. Yes, Bikini Baristas are all the rage here in the Pacific Northwest(gosh, I’m so proud). And even better, who needs a bikini when you can just wear pasties? Hot Chicka Latte in Bonney Lake, WA features “Pasties Tuesday.” Make your travel plans now out of towners, shockingly enough, some people are trying to get those girls covered up!
Giving new meaning to “perking up” your day, the ladies are not without support. I have seen many a fine looking gentleman(cough, cough) throwing his support towards these women on the local news. In fact they even formed Supporters of Bikini Baristas of America to combat all the negative protest that have been going on. Power to the people.
In all seriousness, I could really care less about the bikini girls. They advertise it quite predominately outside of the shack so I know to stay clear so that I can get a nipple free latte some where else. If girls want to shake their goodies while they make your goodies, I suppose that is what it means to be a free country.
So in honour of our recent controversy I made this lovely chocolate chip espresso shortbread. It is simple and more importantly has no eggs(I was out). Oh and you will be happy to know, I made these while being fully clothed. 
P.S. If anyone knows why Tastespotting had to go down, please let me know. I am bummed, I loved that site. 
P.P.S. Enjoy this after a lovely dinner of Crab Macaroni and Cheese.
Chocolate Chip Espresso Shortbread
1 ½ sticks butter, at room temperature
½ cup sugar
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 TBSP espresso powder
1 ½ TBSP dark unsweetened cocoa powder
½ cup semi sweet chocolate chips
Special Equipment: 9 by 9 inch baking pan
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and mix for 30 seconds. Next add the flour, espresso powder and cocoa powder and mix until the dough is smooth, about 1 minute.
Spray the shortbread pan with cooking spray and scatter the chocolate chips across the bottom of the pan. Gently press the dough evenly into the espresso covered pan. Place the pan into the top half of the oven and bake until the shortbread is set, about 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool 15 minutes.
Using a sharp paring knife score the top of the still warm but cooling short bread. Cut in any size you prefer, we like 2 inch squares. Run a butter knife around the edge of the pan and invert onto a cutting board. Give 1 sharp rap and the shortbread will release from the pan. Let cool an additional 10 minutes.
Source: Adapted from the Food Network
54 Responses
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June 13th, 2008 at 2:14 am
I can see that shortbread isn’t ever going to be the same again…
A piece of that, and an industrial-strength cup of coffee – bliss!
June 13th, 2008 at 3:45 am
These cookies look amazing.
The bikini controversy made the national news recently. I thought it was funny.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:02 am
Wow those look and sound great. They will be perfect for a brunch I am hosting next week. How perfect with a cup of espresso or coffee. Thanks for the great recipe!
June 13th, 2008 at 4:10 am
Now this is my kind of shortbread!! Exceptional Pea!
I noticed that Tastespotting was down too which put me in a bit of a bad mood because I loved it. If you find out more. Keep me informed!
June 13th, 2008 at 4:34 am
Hi Peabody – I lovelovelove your blog. I have never commented, but have been admiring your site a very long time indeed! Tastespotting is no longer accessible through Notcot (who was operating it) and sadly it is no longer. What a loss; it was an amazing site.
As usual, your brownies look amazing!
June 13th, 2008 at 4:48 am
Good morning,
Tastespotting note this am., reads due to legal complicatons it will no longer be operating, boo hoo. I guess issues with unauthorized photos etc.,
too bad, was one of my many stops through the day, your blog being first pea…
Regards,
Judy
June 13th, 2008 at 4:57 am
Seriously? Ridiculous.
And yeah, what’s the deal with tastespotting? I was addicted to that site.
June 13th, 2008 at 5:29 am
All I keep thinking is the heat… my god the heat!!! (for you Seinfeld fans)
I worked in a Diedrich coffee years ago, and can’t imagine wearing a bikini doing so. Wayyyy too much steam going on there. Also, I would vote for Pastries Tuesday, not Pasties… but that’s just me…
June 13th, 2008 at 6:08 am
Wow that shorbread looks delicious
June 13th, 2008 at 6:12 am
This bikini trend wouldn’t seem so weird in Honalulu or Miami but Seattle? How many bikini weather days do you really get a year? And, what do the male baristas where?
Who knew that Hooters and Starbucks could forge such an awkward offspring?
June 13th, 2008 at 6:28 am
Ha good call on the Hooters and Starbucks combo.
The shortbread looks awesome. I think you may have converted me.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:52 am
Okay that was hilarious! Just hilarious. Glad you were clothed while making these.
Okay you just informed me about Tastespotting, what an absolute bummer. I wonder what the legal problems were. God I loved the food porn on there, not to mention finding new sites that way. Now I really need a latte.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:52 am
I’m drooling… That shortbread is soooooo scrumptious looking!
Cheers,
Rosa
June 13th, 2008 at 7:20 am
The shortbreads look divine Peabody.
The bikini story is wonderful but your “nipple free latte” is the very best!
June 13th, 2008 at 7:30 am
I’m scared of the bikini-clad baristas–makes me a little nervous to go to Seattle. These shortbreads, however, could make me change my mind.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Tastespotting down?? Gah! So sad…I loved that site, and loved discovering new blogs that way.
This shortbread looks scrumptious.
June 13th, 2008 at 8:03 am
I am in mourning for tastespotting. I am not even sure this gorgeous shortbread will help. But dammnit I will pull myself up by my apronstraps and try!!
June 13th, 2008 at 8:11 am
As a consumer, I approve of clothing optional. As a person in the kitchen where lots of hot stuff could spatter on all the wrong places, I am all for clothing, lol. These look really delicious and I’m a fan of the espresso. Also, R.I.P. tastespotting
June 13th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Haha, sex DEFINITELY sells; and that Chocolate-Chip-Espresso Shortbread is quite appealing, if you ask me ;0D
Tastespotting is down?? Noooo!! :0(
June 13th, 2008 at 8:20 am
I’m bummed about Tastespotting too. I wish there was something we could do to get it back up!
June 13th, 2008 at 9:03 am
it says legal reasons… copyright violations perhaps? but bikini baristas? i hadn’t heard of that… oh my… i’m afraid i would never get a job there…
June 13th, 2008 at 9:09 am
I can’t believe you have bikini baristas in Seattle and we don’t have them in California. Talk about backwards
I made shortbread chocolate chip cookies last week so I must have been channeling you!
June 13th, 2008 at 10:47 am
It is so awesome that I get my cultural news from food blogs. I’ve got to get out more. Oh well, the shortbread looks perky enough for me, I’ll take my coffee in a cookie any day.
June 13th, 2008 at 10:53 am
The shortbread is comforting me after the bad news of Tastespotting being gone. It’s like a death. Just suddenly gone.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:14 am
The shortbread sounds really good. But it seems like there would be a health issue, or a saftey issue (hot coffee being spilled on barley clothed naughty bits = lawsuit) you have to wonder what kind of workers comp insurance they carry.
June 13th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Sniff. Goodbye to Tastespotting, one site which never failed to make my tummy rumble. We need a replacement, fast!
June 13th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I am bummed about TS too
Great looking shortbread!
June 13th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
I was giggling at your post.
I would think a bikini barista would be sort of a hazardous career path. Imagine spilling your frothed milk…OUCH!
This shortbread looks so wonderful!
June 13th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
I couldn’t ever work there because I’m a klutz, I’d have burn marks on top of my stretch marks.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Haha! I have never heard of anything like coffee in bikinis…interesting! Shortbread looks amazingly delicious!
June 13th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
MMM, they look so good!
I seem to remember many years ago hearing about a topless donut shop near Fort Collins, CO. I never stopped in, though, lol.
June 13th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Wow. I love this shortbread recipe. It looks so good!
June 13th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
I am so bummed about Tastespotting. Where will I get my food porn from??
Nipple-free latte made me spit-giggle all over my desk!
These look amazing, and I will have to try them…maybe this weekend. Happy Friday!
June 14th, 2008 at 2:14 am
I don’t know if this is me or you, but I am getting no (and I mean none!) photo’s on your blog. Good heavens, I hope they aren’t shutting you down too! Oh no!
The bikini coffee thing was interpreted differently in my head. I thought the buyer had to wear the bikini or pasties. I thought…well, I could strap a couple of Cornish pasties on to my chest, to get a latte and a laugh. But don’t worry, I get it now! I guess the massage parlor or Hooters had to diversify in Seattle!
So…where are your pictures?
June 14th, 2008 at 4:33 am
Not sure if this is the reason, but the company that used to run tastespotting was just bought. Maybe they’re revamping it? (fingers crossed…)
June 14th, 2008 at 5:36 am
I was giggling from the get-go. You’re a trip! Love these shortbreads.
I am bummed about TS too….kept going back thinking I was typing it in wrong and it was a some other/adifferent TS site that was down…wishful thinking.
June 14th, 2008 at 5:46 am
for some weird reason your pics are not lading, so i cant see any of them, but i read about bikini coffee…hmm, lol … i guess not we cant even take our men out for a decent cupaa coffee :p
June 14th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Oh dear, **hanging head in shame** As someone who does, in deed, live in Bonney Lake, I feel like I need to apologize to everyone out there for our, um, entrepreneurial taste here. It’s embarrassing.
But, on a brighter note, that shortbread looks amazing and I must try it!
June 14th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I love the sketchy coffay shacks with the naughtay girls
None of that out here in Mass *grin*
June 14th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Wow, that’s slightly horrifying… Your story about bikini baristas, that is. Your shortbread on the other hand sounds heavenly!
June 14th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
It’s horrible about Tastespotting. But these shortbread do cheer me up a little.
June 14th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
first of all, YUM! That looks so good! Second of all, I hadn’t heard about TS until I saw your post – such a bummer – I loved it too. Maybe they’ll find a way to work it out.
June 14th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
What a funny idea…bikini baristas??? Who knew! Your shortbread looks delicious though! And yes, my heart sunk too when I found out about tastespotting!
June 15th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Chocolate, coffee, AND shortbread? Sounds like a new addiction. These could definitely be dangerous!
June 15th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Ahaha, Sex DOES defiantly sell xD
Ooooh, and I too am extremely bummed about Tastespotting. I was so addicted to it. I keep checking in hope that it might be back :[
(I really love your shortbread. Has two of my favorite things!!)
June 15th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Guess – what – it probably wasn’t copyright violations since these guys appear to have started the exact same thing: http://foodgawker.com/!
June 15th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Wonderful looking shortbread!
June 15th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Wow I can’t believe they have bikini baristas!
Espresso shortbread with lots of chocolates chips – yum!
June 15th, 2008 at 9:58 am
I’ll gladly support the bikini baristas when we have all those men baristas shirtless! Lets hear it for the shirtless baristas!
For now I’ll just have to explain to my husband why I’m asking for a nipple free latte the next time I get coffee.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Oh that is just so classy! lol
I have no idea about tastespotting… I was shocked when I went there yesterday and saw the note. http://www.foodgawker.com is trying to take up the slack!
June 16th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
i have read in the news about these bikini baristas. cracks me up, although i wouldn’t want to get my espresso from them either!
June 16th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
I’ll have to ask my sis (who lives in WA) about the bikini baristas! I’ve not heard of them. Sounds funny.
I love your brownies. And I miss Tastespotting too
June 18th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
bikini baristas? what has this country come to?!?!
my DH would love this shortbread, chocolate and espresso!
July 24th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
[...] then all bets are off. Not quite as catchy as the original slogan, but I am sure it will catch on. Bikini Baristas: I will admit that I have yet to hear anymore about the boner inducing baristas of Bonney Lake(you [...]