Cheesecake? That's History!

Today, cheesecake is synonymous with New York. But believe it or not, New Yorkers didn’t invent it. The story of cheesecake stretches back thousands of years, across ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, and eventually to the streets of New York. So, how did we get from ancient cheese cakes to the cheesecake sandwich?

A delicious stack of cheesecake sandwiches.

Ah, cheesecake. What’s more New York than cheesecake?

You know, besides the classic, “Hey, I’m walkin’ here!”

New York has much more to offer than begrudged businessmen and expletives. Like here, in Whitestone, at Grandma’s Cheesecake Sandwiches, we have our cheesecake sandwiches, a delicious new derivative of the cheesecake. 

But where does the cheesecake come from?

Let’s travel to Greece. I’m talking about ancient, 5th-century BC Greece. On the island called Samos, the ancient Greeks made their cheesecakes, called Plakountas, by mushing cheese into a paste, adding honey and wheat flour, and baking it. It was more of a loaf than a cake, and it had no crust.

In 776 BC, in Olympia, the very first Olympics were held. To fuel their rugged, hunky Olympians, the ancient Grecian spectators made them cheesecake. 

Cheesecake was not originally a dessert, but a healthy snack. 

What a way to diet, huh?

Then came the Romans. 

As they say, all good diets must come to an end. 

With the Roman Invasion came the absorption of Greek culture (among many other cultures). The cheesecake had a renaissance. Three new recipes emerged: Labrum, Savillum, and…Placenta. I’m keeping my mouth shut on that one. 

Thankfully, Savillum is the recipe that most modern-day cheesecakes are based on. 

A current-day recreation of Savillum made by Reddit user @skippyscruffy.

The Romans did us all a favor and added some eggs into their recipe, creating a much cake-ier cake. They also cooked their cakes between hot bricks, as opposed to an open fire or hot coals, which is more similar to our modern-day ovens. 

The Roman Empire’s cheesecake spread to just about every corner of Europe – much like the plague. Each region developed their own spin on it, and the French – with their cheese-y expertise – mastered the art of the creamy cheesecake. 

Fast-forward about a millennium to the colonization of the Americas. The new-world settlers brought cheesecake with them as a tasty treat. Although, I have to admit, I just can’t imagine a Puritan eating cheesecake. 

Okay, okay, back to the cheesecake. 

We have finally arrived at the part you all have been waiting for: the New York Style Cheesecake. Long story short, in 1872 a dairy farmer named William A. Lawrence was attempting to recreate the French Neuchâtel cheese. 

Oops! He accidentally created cream cheese, otherwise known as the cultural glue of NYC.

Then came Kraft – yes, as in the boxed macaroni and cheese Kraft – who gave cheese a stable shelf life in 1916. 

Then came Reuben – yes, as in the sandwich Reuben – a German guy who made the New York Cheesecake by accident in the early 1930s. I guess cheesecake does cure all Depression. 

So, what’s the difference?

New Yorkers use cream cheese, the Greeks use feta, and the Romans use ricotta. 

But I think we all could use a cheesecake sandwich from Grandma’s Cheesecake Sandwich.

But what is a cheesecake sandwich, you may ask? 

It’s the unique, delicious combination of a New York Style Cheesecake and a cookie sandwich. 

This light, fluffy dessert was created by our innovative founder, Lisa Cotoggio. Combining both her beloved grandmother Raphaella’s recipe and her entrepreneurial spirit, Lisa developed 36 incredible flavors that rotate throughout the year. 

 And what’s more New York than on-the-go cheesecake? Wait – Jinx! You have to buy me a Grandma’s Cheesecake Sandwich!

Grandma’s Cheesecake Sandwiches are available on GoldBelly and UberEats.