(Photos via D. Robert Wolcheck)

The Takedowns empire continued its conquest of the culinary landscape into the world of sweets with the Cookie Takedown this last Sunday afternoon in at the Bell House. Sweet-tooths packed the venue to judge the best among entries that varied from the simple peanut butter chocolate chip, to cardamom thumbprints with with cranberry apple compote, to chocolate caramel cookies with duck fat (the crowd favorite), to a salty take on samoas (the judge's favorite).