‘Tis the season of the Girl Scout cookie. Permit me to offer some advice. First of all, beware of imposters. Do not be beguiled by the Samoas or the Lemonades. Don’t be led astray by Tagalongs or Trefoils; they are mere pretenders deceiving the gullible. There is but one girl scout cookie, one annual delight, one tantalizing, tasty touch of Elysium–the thin mint. A divine commixture of chocolate, mint, crunch and mystery, it’s incomparable.

The cookies should be frozen in advance. One must set aside a suitable time, place and environment. Prepare a place of serenity, free from distraction. Turn on some soft, peaceful music. Subdued light and tranquillity will immeasurably enhance the experience. Remove the cookies from the box and arrange on a silver tray or serving dish. Pour yourself a glass of Harvey’s Bristol Cream Sherry or Dry Sack. Now you are ready to begin.

Select one cookie and insert it into your mouth upside down. These cookies must never be eaten right side up. This is a very common mistake. The subtle combination of flavor is lost if you fail to observe this one rule. The cookie must be placed into your mouth whole. Do not attempt to savor this piecemeal. Now, just allow the flavors to develop on your tongue and waft into your nose. After a few seconds — you’ll instinctively know when the time is right — you may begin to chew. Remember, the thin mint is not meant to be shoveled into one’s mouth with reckless abandon. It must be consumed thoughtfully, reverently, thankfully. Take a sip of sherry and allow yourself to be transported to sensory Nirvana.

You may now proceed to your second cookie following the same regimen. Resist at all costs the temptation to devour an entire box of cookies in the blind, unbridled fury of pent up desire. Rather, control your passion with refinement, culture and good breeding. I recommend eating only a few cookies at one sitting as your taste sensors will quickly be overwhelmed, sullying the experience through overindulgence.

Now, there is hardly a living soul that is more than one degree of separation from a purveyor of Girl Scout cookies, but if you are so unfortunate,I have a granddaughter who can fix you up.

P.S. Thin mints can also be eaten for breakfast, or any time of day or night, with coffee or milk but since they are available only once a year, you owe it to yourself to treat the experience as it deserves. And whatever you do, you MUST put them into your mouth upside- down. This is very, very important! And lastly, do not feed these to your children. They have neither the maturity nor propensity to properly enjoy these cookies. Give them Oreos and reserve this limited annual treat for adults who can give them the respect they deserve.