Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Cynthia’s Cheesecake

                Cheesecake

I met Cynthia years ago in Paris. We were Americans living abroad; she had a bakery close to my apartment where she whipped up American favorites. Cynthia was a rising star in the pastry world, and I was her official taster (well, that is the title I would rather have than a piglet. With the number of desserts I ate in her shop, I wonder if I didn't give birth to a cheesecake. Well, Chelsea did weigh ten pounds at birth.)

                Chocolatenote

Cynthia made her famous cheesecake the other night for dinner. It was a hit. Notes of chocolate and raspberry added to the flavor of the cheesecake. After all, I wanted the guests to sing, and they certainly did sing praises to Cynthia.

                Emptyplate_2

French husband loves Cynthia's cakes and desserts. After eating his second piece of cheesecake, he teasingly added, "The cheesecake has the taste of….." he looked up as if thinking what the missing flavor might be, and then looked at Cynthia and said, "…the taste of not enough." He had yet another piece.

                Cheesecakecynthia

The cheesecake is a top-secret recipe (though I have Cynthia's recipe. That is another story.) It has two layers: the crust is chocolate and is laced with raspberry and melted chocolate.

While Cynthia is staying with us, I am in hog heaven.

 

Comments

56 responses to “Cynthia’s Cheesecake”

  1. Marie-Noëlle

    I was very close, yesterday, with “cheese and profiteroles” !
    Had it been a guessing game…?!?!?!
    Oh oh…
    Lovely cake, Sin-thia !!!

    Reply
  2. Marie-Noëlle

    PS I enjoyed the story about the “cycling cake”.
    If one day you need money, just put that picture of FH on sale … you’ll get a fortune !!!

    Reply
  3. Jeanne

    Thanks for spreading your sweetness all over the land……….You do know how to live!
    Love you
    Jeanne

    Reply
  4. Darla

    Yes please. I’ll have my piece this morning for breakfast.
    Darla

    Reply
  5. Amanda (aka Cottage Contessa)

    What?! No recipe to share?? Ok, it’ll just have to be a feast for my eyes & imagination, and not my taste buds…….sob sob.
    Amanda (aka Cottage Contessa)

    Reply
  6. Mélanie

    This morning , without eating during 24 hours , I wish I could have eaten another piece of this wonderful cake ….The taste is still in my mouth anyway .

    Reply
  7. cruststation

    Forgive me if I drool a little here, I love cheesecakes! Can I be a taster too? lucky you!!

    Reply
  8. Beverly

    Corey,
    Thanks for filling us in on the dessert! It needed to know the whole story!
    And just an interesting tidbit…Steven weighed 10 lbs 15 oz at birth! Big babies!

    Reply
  9. My Melange

    Yum! Chessecake is one of my favorites! I am lucky to have my Mom’s recipe which is thick and way too rich…but that it why I love it. Hers looks just divine! Sounds like a nice party 😉

    Reply
  10. Kit

    Wow that looks wonderful! that elegant drizzle of chocolate over the top just makes it sing!

    Reply
  11. dkmp9293

    YUM! Next time I see you, we must have this!

    Reply
  12. Sheila

    Raspberries and chocolate and cheescake Oh my..!
    There is something so unfair about husbands who can eat three desserts and not gain weight..!
    My clothes feel tighter just looking at the photograph..!

    Reply
  13. Kitem

    What about the bathroom scale? the needle will soon be going to the wrong side. Tant pis! diet will start next week, meanwhile enjoy Cynthia’s marvellous cakes.

    Reply
  14. Shannon

    Those pictures are such a tease. My mouth is watering.

    Reply
  15. delphine

    oh i have yet to meet a cheese cake i didn’t like. 😉
    delphine

    Reply
  16. beachy

    Cheesecake is my BIGGEST weakness (second only to bread pudding). I can almost taste the decadence just by looking at your lovely cheesecake photos!

    Reply
  17. Pauline

    Perhaps we could start a world-wide trade of chocolate for whatever…

    Reply
  18. rochambeau

    Boy, Frenchhusband has the best “dessert line”
    I’ve ever heard. Think I’m going to have to add that one to my vocabulary! Cynthia’s cheese cake looks like a slice of heaven to me!
    Double Yum!

    Reply
  19. fleur

    “The taste of not enough” — c’est parfait!

    Reply
  20. tommiea

    This post made me think of my husband….cheesecake is his favorite dessert ever. I will have to tell him French husband’s line…I am sure he will use it often.

    Reply
  21. Catalina

    ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
    If you don’t want me to drop dead I need the bakery name in Paris….(or the recipe;..:)…)

    Reply
  22. french husband

    It was a dream, sooooooooooooo good !
    And guess what Mélanie ?
    I’am eating right now the last piece that I found in the refrigerater… and before Cynthia and Corey are coming back !!!
    I wish I could save you a little, but no more… (before the next one) 😉

    Reply
  23. Miz Booshay

    It’s beautiful and I’m sure it is delicious!
    God bless Cynthia :o)
    I loved your line about being official taster instead of piglet :o)
    How do you stay so slim?
    And men!!! It’s just not fair that they can eat two pieces!!!

    Reply
  24. Ariane

    You’re making me hungry! hahaha The cheesecake looks fabulous! Is cheesecake an American dessert? Do the French serve cheesecake or is that a novelty to them? I know they have delicious pastries there, but I’ve never considered if cheesecake was something they have or not.

    Reply
  25. Lorene

    The cheesecake looks absolutely sinful! Can you send me a piece? LOL!!

    Reply
  26. Travelingmama

    Mmmmm! Divine! It’s always nice to have friends with similar interests!

    Reply
  27. Sandy

    corey, You are killing me with this cheesecake photo! I just had a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast : (

    Reply
  28. farmlife4014

    I am not sure, but I think I feel my thighs expanding just looking at the picture of that cheese cake! Delish!!!!
    Does your friend ever plan to visit Buffalo??? I know a place where she could stay and it comes with 7 people who would be delighted to taste test any dessert she would care to make! LOL
    God bless.
    Terri

    Reply
  29. Dee

    Please pass another piece of cheesecake! yummy!

    Reply
  30. Britt-Arnhild

    If ever, no, I mean WHEN your book comes, I hope it will have a section with recipes by you and your friends. Illustrated with FH tasting and delivering…….
    You said once that you needed a million questions from us before you make a book. How far are we into the million? 😉
    The “amuse-bouche” you mentioned yesterday…..I have it. It’s a hit! Even in my plain Norwegian kitchen.

    Reply
  31. AnnieElf

    OMG!!!, Corey. I gained ten pounds just LOOKING at these photos. I’m swooning.

    Reply
  32. Mrs. G.

    I’m going to have to check, but I’m pretty sure this isn’t on the Weight Watcher’s diet. I’m dying over here.

    Reply
  33. Frieda

    OMG, be careful what you post!!!..those pictures and your enticing words was tempting me to run to Paris and find your friend and buy all her cheescakes 🙂 🙂

    Reply
  34. angela marie

    Oh My Gosh! that looks heavenly. She is an American and cheese cake in America doesn’t even look that good here.
    I am drooling ~

    Reply
  35. Di Overton

    That is the most mouthwatering post I have ever read.

    Reply
  36. rel

    Corey,
    That is a srumptious looking desert. Your photo and description was superb and tanalizing, truly a piece de resistance.
    rel

    Reply
  37. Darlene

    your photo’s are beautiful
    stories delightful
    and now I’m hungry
    xOx darlene

    Reply
  38. susanna

    Ohhhh…that looks soooo good. Lucky you to have a culinary wizard staying with you!

    Reply
  39. Belém

    It isn’t fair!!! I started on diet just a week ago 🙁

    Reply
  40. Merisi’s Vienna

    Love that extra note of chocolate. 🙂
    I can see how in your household nobody has to eat spelt bread with nutella if the chocolate urge gets to strong. 😉

    Reply
  41. melissa @ the inspired room

    Now that looks positively divine. I must have some. Cheese cake WITH chocolate would be irresistible. You are a lucky piglet, I mean, taster. Piglet sounds adorable, however, and in this case I would not be ashamed to be called one.

    Reply
  42. muzeyyen

    your writing is like a song…you swirl the words and expressions into a beautiful story.
    reading your blog always makes me feel warm and cozy.
    thank you.

    Reply
  43. Liz Ness

    YUM! I can almost taste it and it is good (heh-heh).

    Reply
  44. heather

    just seeing cheesecake in the title, i knew i was in trouble! it’s probably just as well for my waistline that you didn’t give us the recipe….there’s too many things that taste like not enough and unfortunately it’s not always the vegetables 😉

    Reply
  45. Ellen Cassilly

    Hey there Cynthia and Corey,
    What great memories I have of hanging out in the shop. I would have loved to have come for dinner – at least for dessert. Love and hugs, Ellen

    Reply
  46. Gillian

    Oh oink. From one piglet to another, oinky oink. I love cheesecake! Shove on down the trough Corey, make room for another little hog at the feedbin!
    xo
    Gillian

    Reply
  47. Betty C.

    I don’t know if it’s the chilly temperatures, but there are a lot of cheesecake posts around these days! One of my fav desserts because it’s not too sweet…

    Reply
  48. s’mee

    I love these photos and the descriptions you write.
    I hope you don’t mind that I have added you to my blog roll.

    Reply
  49. Becca

    The amuse bouche below PLUS the cheesecake – a fabulous beginning and end to a special dinner.

    Reply
  50. sky

    oh my goodness! i am now starving for a piece of that cheesecake. i wish cynthia would stay with us! but, if she did i would just get fatter and fatter instead of working on my weight loss issue…so i guess it is better that she is with you. 😉

    Reply
  51. Betty @ She’s Sew Pretty

    Oh…let me eat cheesecake!

    Reply
  52. la vie en rose

    pass me a slice of that PLEASE!

    Reply
  53. Ceylon Sapphire

    you know that posting pictures and descriptions and not even hinting at the whats in the recipe is just pure cruelty to a dessert loving cook like me…
    Cynthia’s Cheesecake —– yuuuuum

    Reply
  54. mary

    how gorgeous ! I loooooooove cheesecake !!!!

    Reply
  55. Steph

    Thats sooo cruel not to post a recipe!! When I was in the US I was warned chessecake would be everywhere and it was. I was one happy piggy.

    Reply
  56. caty

    That cheesecake looks dangerously good, now i’m hungry

    Reply

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