I Travelled To Mecca...Or Something Like It

Well, yesterday on our way to the laundromat, we drove by a place that we couldn't stop at because of time - but I knew I needed to stop by before we left Buffalo this morning. So early this morning, Jill and I hopped in the van and headed to a place I've only dreamed of before: Say Cheesecake Cafe! That's right - and entire CHEESECAKE cafe/store - which boasted over 35 flavors of cheesecake on their sign. EXCUSE ME? And what better timing...because the only thing I was GOING to have to report on was our 10 hour van ride from Western New York clear out to Long Island.

Yep. Here it is....

So the Say Cheesecake Cafe is a small little shop - that has a full menu of sandwhiches, salads, etc - plus a catering source and bakery. Their speciality is a cheesecake wedding cake - which, after seeing them, I wouldn't mind marrying one of the cakes - and their menu of 35 different cheesecakes. Jill and I were helped by the most DELIGHTFUL woman behind the counter. She could sell these cheesecake slices to a Cream Cheese-aholics Convention. We ended up bringing back to the group 2 of their small samplers (with small sample cups of 12 of their most popular cheesecakes), and then 3 other pieces of cheesecake. (Jill got a 4th piece of peanut butter pie - which was a chocolate mousse/cream cheese blend and it was SIMPLY amazing. But I came for the cheesecake.)

So...just a look at the inside...and Jill gets excited about all the variety! (Don't enlarge the pic - it's blurry....)

Some of the wedding cakes they can make....

Up close and personal.

Our order.

So now, please meet the cheesecakes that we bought and everyone sampled throughout our van ride today:

THE PEANUT BUTTER PIE

A hit with the van - but not subjected to the MASE for Cheesecakes. But still, DELISH!

THE AMARETTO CHEESECAKE

So, I didn't actually try this one. I had a barely FAIR experience with an amaretto cheesecake in Fargo, ND and decided not to try this one with so many others available. But Jill gave it 2 enthusiastic thumbs up...so I'm going to say that she would say an 8 on the MASE.

THE LEMON SUPREME CHEESECAKE

This is a nice, light cheesecake with a layer of sponge cake and lemon gel in the middle of the cake. It has nice flavor and was also a huge hit with everyone in the van. Eric claimed it to be his favorite. I would give it a solid 7 on the MASE.

THE CARROT CAKE CHEESECAKE

OK, so not the best presentation...since we got it to go in a box...but i'm telling you what - with chunks of RAISIN-FREE real carrot cake in the middle of the cheesecake, and with an amazing cream cheese frosting on the cake - this cake was a HUGE favorite of everyone in the van! It is a nice blend of cake and cheesecake...and it earned a 9 on the MASE!

THE SAMPLER

Jackie models the sampler. I would give the sampler, itself, an 8. I would probably give it a higher rating, but it comes with no GUIDE - so it's like eating a box of jelly belly's and guessing the flavor! I DO know that the all orange one in the lower right hand corner is a creamcicle cheesecake, and it was scrumptious!

Big fans of cheesecake themselves, Hoops and Yoyo got their own sampler, and enjoyed it the entire trip. Yoyo was carrying around the last cup for about an hour - refusing to part with it. But he finally gave in and ate it. It was a pineapple cheesecake.

So there it is - the bulk and excitement of our day! It was a fun way to spend 10 hours in the van. Cheesecake and sleeping....mmmmmm...are we REALLY getting paid for this? Wild! Happy FRIDAY to everyone out there...and thanks for reading along. OH - and another big THANK YOU to Eric for tackling the posting yesterday. And keep your eyes peeled for future GUEST BLOGGERS from the cast.

GOOD NIGHT!