ISLAMABAD: The modern cheesecake is synonymous with either New York or Philadelphia, and not something you’d expect to find in every corner bakery in Pakistan; unless one counts that classic dry cake topped with salty cheddar that your grandparents used to have with their tea in the 1990s.

Cheesecakes today are just shy of being strictly gourmet affairs. From the annals of Masterchef to the trendy cafes of Karachi, this delicious treat has captured the imaginations and tastebuds of the capital’s discerning food lovers.

Even though there is evidence to suggest that the ancient Greeks have been baking a rudimentary form of the cheesecake since antiquity, celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal’s claim that the treat is actually a British invention has caused no small commotion in the culinary world.

But in the capital, purveyors of quality cheesecakes are few and far between; even rarer are those whose creations leave a lasting impression. Foodies seems to agree that the best cheesecakes in town can be found at one of three places; the Nirvana cafe, the Hot Spot or up-and-coming bakery Burning Brownie.

Nirvana and Hot Spot represent the establishment; they are well-recognised names in the capital. For many years, the former’s blueberry and strawberry flavoured cheesecake reigned supreme both for its taste and for being true to the cheesecake tradition.

According to longtime Islamabad resident, Saleha Waqar, Nirvana is the first outlet that introduced the capital to actual cheesecakes.

Another cheesecake fan who has been eating at Nirvana for eight years now told Dawn that their taste had not varied one bit in all that time, even though the presentation lacked imagination.

With a rich and tangy texture and a Graham cracker base, this delectable dish is a treat for the tastebuds

However, some foodies now deride Nirvana’s cheesecakes for being unoriginal; by some accounts, they are not baked at the cafe themselves, but outsourced. Natasha Syed, another food lover, complained that Nirvana serves imported New York-style cheesecakes with no variation.

The Hot Spot, on the other hand, is the staple spot for those who want to indulge their sweet tooth. The eatery’s F-7 outlet currently offers a delectable variety of cheesecakes, including the signature New York and Philadelphia cheesecake, with a signature tangy kick.

WHETHER it is the strawberry-topped cheesecake from Burning Brownie (left) or the signature Philadelphia-style cheesecake from Hot Spot, food lovers agree that both tasty treats are a pleasure for the tastebuds. — Photos by Khurram Amin

There are also variations such as the forbiddingly sinful Nutella cheesecake, a caramel cheesecake and the oreo cheesecake, for the more gastronomically adventurous.

The fact that their cheesecakes can also be had a la mode with any of the dozens of ice cream flavours that are on offer makes their offering a competitive one.

The Hot Spot cheesecake is a complete meal into itself. The delectable Graham cracker base and the baked cream cheese filling has a rich and dense texture that captures the tang of the sour cream that is an essential component of any cheesecake experience.

WHETHER it is the strawberry-topped cheesecake from Burning Brownie (left) or the signature Philadelphia-style cheesecake from Hot Spot, food lovers agree that both tasty treats are a pleasure for the tastebuds. — Photos by Khurram Amin

However, the newest entrant to the dessert game in Islamabad is the one that has captured most food lovers’ imaginations and tastebuds. Burning Brownie’s cheesecake is admittedly not strictly cheesecake; they use butter to make their filling lighter and less rich than their counterparts. Purists may argue that this defeats the purpose of the cheesecake, but the consensus seems to be that Burning Brownie’s creation is decidedly lighter on the palette and the stomach than anything else on offer in the capital.

Available with a choice of toppings, such as strawberry, Burning Brownie’s cheesecake has been hailed my nearly all who’ve experienced it.

Journalist Amber Rahim Shamsi recommends the cheesecake highly, as does academic Nadia Naviwala. Maybe its time you should sample some too.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2015

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