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ABOUT CHEESECAKES

The food scenario today is far different than it was five or ten years back.


For most of us, happy occasions or celebrations meant a visit to the temple, a new dress or maybe homemade traditional sweets like Kesari or Gulab Jamun. Cakes were an occasional treat and the popular ones were always the pound cake. But today most birthdays and weddings are celebrated with Cakes and Candles. The celebration cakes range from Buttercream cakes, Fresh cream cakes, Fondant and Theme cakes are all the vogue now. Where does the Cheesecake fit in all this?


Cheesecakes still remain as a new and unexplored concept. 


Turns out cheesecake has a rich history dating back 4000 years. The first “cheesecake” may have been created on the Greek island of Samos.  In  Greece, cheesecake was considered to be a good source of energy. The simple ingredients of flour, wheat, honey and cheese were formed into a cake and baked – a far cry from the more complicated recipes available today! ( Don't see an egg there)


The first Greek cheesecake recipe was written in 230 A.D by Athenaeus. A basic recipe which says- 

"Take cheese and pound it till smooth and pasty; put cheese in a brazen sieve; add honey and spring wheat flour. Heat in one mass, cool and serve"


When the Romans conquered Greece, they modified it by including crushed cheese and eggs. These ingredients were baked under a hot brick and it was served warm. The Romans called their cheesecake “libum”, and served it on special occasions. 


As the Romans expanded their empire, they brought cheesecake recipes to the Europeans. Great Britain and Eastern Europe began experimenting with ways to put their own unique spin on cheesecake.  When Europeans migrated to America they bought their cheesecake recipes along.

By the 18th Century, cheesecake started to look like what we see in the USA today. Today most cheesecakes are made with Cream cheese.  Cream cheese forms the staple ingredient in Cheesecakes. 


Philadelphia cream cheese’s dominance isn’t a happy accident. Dating back to the late 1800s, a New-yorker named William  Lawrence started selling his own cream cheese under the label "Philadelphia" and trademarked the words " Philadelphia" and "Pennsylvania" in conjunction with cheese products. It was a major hit. When the company merged with Kraft Foods, they developed a pasteurized version making “Philadelphia Cream Cheese” a household name. 


New York Style Cheesecake

As the name suggests this Cheesecake became famous in  New York. New York cheesecake is a simple cheesecake with no fancy ingredients added and served as a plain cake with no fruit or chocolate topping. It was made with pure cream cheese, cream, eggs and sugar.  By the 1900s this dessert was served in every restaurant.

In 1900s Arnold Reuben, owner of the Turf Restaurant in New York city, claimed that his family developed the first cream cheesecake recipe. The story goes that he was served a cheese pie at a private dinner, which he fell in love with. Using the hostess recipe he then began to develop his own recipe for the perfect cheesecake and served it in his restaurant. The rest, as they say, is history and is now famously known as the "New York Classic Cheesecake"


All around the world, people have made their own variations of the cheesecake based on the availability of local produce. While the main ingredients remain the same (i.e., Cheese, flour and sweetener), the kind of cheese and flavours offered varies depend on the place, and the creativity of the baker! 


The Cheesecake Corner, Bangalore

In " The Cheesecake Corner"   Bangalore, India - we have created our own version of three types of Cheesecakes. All our Cheesecakes are eggless! 


Our Cold Cheesecakes can be identified with the rare Japanese Style of " No Bake".  They are soft and creamy! The flavored cream cheese is poured over golden brown cookie crust and glazed with fruit puree on top. 


Our Stack Cheesecakes are a combination of both baked and non baked layers. It has a cake sponge bottom and cream cheese layer on top. This is ideal for those who like cakes.


Our Baked Cheesecakes are deceivingly simple (we have stuck to the basic - Cheese, flour and sweetener) but packs an intense, rich and smooth cream cheese dessert. 



Source: https://whatscookingamerica.net/History/Cakes/Cheesecake.htm, https://newyorkstreetfood.com/desserts/ny-cheesecake/, https://www.thespruceeats.com/rare-cheesecake-2031083 

Copyright © 2020, The Cheesecake Corner

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