Whew! I’ve been a busy, busy bee! I arrived back home from Florida just in time for the arrival of friends from Australia, whom I have not seen in over 10 years!
Because there is so much to do and see and eat here in New York City, whenever my friends visit I try to organize their days based on their interests: the typical tourist traps, venturing out to where only New Yorkers and lost tourists go, finding a different country to visit via lunch and dinner. There are a plethora of options when New York City is the host. But THE ONE THING everyone gets to experience (whether they want to or not) is Juniors cheesecake.
I mean, c’mon. A. Who doesn’t like cheesecake? B. Who hasn’t heard of New York Cheesecake? and C. Who doesn’t like cheesecake?!? It was established in 1950 in Brooklyn, but was so popular it opened additional restaurants in Times Square and Grand Central Station. That (GCS) is where April & I discovered this epicurean delight!
Juniors has a very extensive diner menu and the couple of times I’ve eaten there, it’s been good. For example, I had a proper wedge salad the other day. Nice crisp iceberg lettuce, perfectly cooked bacon, freshly sliced tomatoes, and creamy crumbly blue cheese. Normally, I am not one to like iceberg lettuce–I find it to be a bit bland and tasteless–but when used as a bed for bacon, blue cheese, and tomatoes, it works beautifully. The other fabulous thing about a wedge salad is the presentation. As my friend from Australia commented when it came out: “WOW! It really is a wedge of lettuce. An actual wedge!” What I like most about Junior’s wedge is that the goodies are on the side, so you actually get a bit more and you don’t just get blue cheese dressing, you get blue cheese crumbles–YUM!
But I digress. You’re not here for the wedge (although it’s got you thinking about one for lunch, doesn’t it?!?!?), you’re here for the cheesecake. And if you’re eating at Junior’s, just make sure you save room. Juniors has an extensive list of cheesecakes on the menu and they are all great. The classic does not disappoint. There is a reason it’s called the classic: it’s rich and creamy and everything you’ve ever wanted out of a cheesecake! But if you like chocolate or love chocolate or are obsessed with chocolate, you have HAVE HAVE to get the Devil’s Food cheesecake. It is pure decadence.
I know that a picture is worth a thousand words, but I still feel the need to sum up these layers. You start with a layer Devil’s food cake (aka dark chocolate cake), you add a layer of chocolate frosting, then a large layer of cheesecake, followed by another layer of frosting, a layer of cake, a layer of frosting, a layer of cake, and one final layer of frosting. AND THEN, you frost the sides and cover it in chocolate chips. 8 amazing layers of creamy, chocolately divineness, melding together for the perfect bite that makes you want to stop time and just enjoy.
GO EAT JUNIORS CHEESECAKE! and send me a chocolate smudged thank you! 🙂
The Epicurious Texan 