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March 25, 2004
Cheesecake Challenge
Who makes the best cheesecake? What defines a good cheesecake? Is flavored cheesecake cheating? What about toppings?
Tien started this raucous argument a few days ago, inciting many. It is time to figure out, once and for all, the true New Yorker answers to these questions. I now throw down the gauntlet and present the Cheesecake Challenge:
Objective: Identify the best cheesecake in New York City.
Subjects: New York Bloggers (and select others)
Method:
Compilation of concise cheesecake vendor list
Assignment of subjects to said vendors
Delivery of cakes to Brooklyn tasting lab
Consumption
Rules & Regulations:
You must eat cheesecake to participate (no lurkers!)
You do no need to bring cheesecake to participate
Register your vendor before purchasing the cake (so we don't wind up with eight plain cheesecakes from Junior's)
More than one person may bring a cheesecake from the same vendor, however the type must vary (topping, flavor, etc.)
You may bake your own cheesecake—but not from a mix
Please, people—bring mini cakes, not 12”-ers
Posted by callalillie at March 25, 2004 11:57 AM | Food
omg - that's some brilliant photoshopping work. brava!!
i'm so down with this. i'm not sure where i'm bringing cheesecake from yet. i will either pick a place from the nytimes article, or make mini pumpkin cheesecakes.
Posted by: jeannette at March 25, 2004 12:04 PM
hoochie mamma! mental note, no more images of me on my website. i can either do juniors or eileen's in plain or strawberry.
Posted by: tien at March 25, 2004 12:16 PM
i could do a junior's, but i'll volunteer for monteleone's since i want to try this ricotta cheesecake.
Posted by: dahl at March 25, 2004 12:23 PM
Me me me! I'll poke around to see if I can find a proper underdog commercial cheesecake, and if not you can assign me one.
Posted by: Linus at March 25, 2004 12:29 PM
OK, I've snooped a bit, and I'm in for Sweet Melissa's, down on Court Street. I'll case the joint this weekend. That cool by the organizers?
Posted by: Linus at March 25, 2004 12:44 PM
mmm, i love sweet melissa's. sounds good to me. we need variety.
Posted by: corie at March 25, 2004 1:01 PM
i'll check out what's available in my hood (Ft Greene/Clinton Hill/CliHiSty). corie, you should have your mom make one too, it can be our 'control' group. so is this gonna be like a wine tasting, with spittoons so we don't actually get to eat anything?
Posted by: Jimmy Legs at March 25, 2004 1:33 PM
i wish my mom could...unfortunately, shipping it from VT might be a bit hard.
we eat everything! no partial regurgitation allowed. we'll leave that to irving, as he does it well.
Posted by: corie at March 25, 2004 1:36 PM
There's also carnegie deli, veniero's [sic] and, let's not forget Queens, people, the astoria bakery. yum. i'm in. april 17th, right?
Posted by: josé at March 25, 2004 1:58 PM
i am happy you guys are doing this but sad i cant be there :( :( :( :(
Posted by: rachelle at March 25, 2004 2:14 PM
rachelle, maybe the event calls for a nyc visit?
Posted by: corie at March 25, 2004 2:17 PM
Will it be at your place, Corie?
Posted by: josé at March 25, 2004 2:28 PM
I'm about 95% sure-- I'm waiting to see how many people to expect. I have pack in about 15-20 max in my place. I'll send out address info soon....
Posted by: corie at March 25, 2004 2:31 PM
Great idea. I have a few Gramercy/Union Square outposts to consider (including the farmer's market, where I've seen a few cheesecakes lurking). I'll try to select from as obscure a place as possible.
If no one else can make it to Veneiro's, I can stop by there instead--I'll just have to be careful to avoid electrocution.
Posted by: Doug at March 25, 2004 2:35 PM
I WILL EAT ALL THE CHEESECAKE IN THE UNIVERSE!!!
Posted by: cat omalley at March 25, 2004 2:37 PM
omg, this sounds so fun! can anyone come or is this by invite only?
Posted by: victoria at March 25, 2004 3:17 PM
Sweet Melissa is excellant but alas no match for Juniors.
I nominate Delices de Paris (9th St btw 4th/5th Ave, B'klyn). Guy used to be the personal pastry chef for Jackie O. How come I don't have a personal pastry chef....oh, right, nevermind. They have awesome gift baskets, too, if you ever need that last minute house warmer.
Posted by: Jo at March 25, 2004 5:56 PM
I will either make a cake or scout out places in Harlem to get one (think of the strenuous research!).
We could fedex a few slices to you, Rachelle. Of course, this assumes we don't consume all the cake.
Posted by: joe s at March 25, 2004 6:45 PM
i won't be participating, but, just so you don't miss out, make sure to try one from monteleone's.
Posted by: e.j. at March 30, 2004 5:52 PM
Personal favorite: pumpkin cheesecake from La Lanterna (http://www.lalanternacaffe.com/). Not sure who makes it, but a dim memory says they make it themselves.
Posted by: whatisee at April 6, 2004 12:12 PM
