WORDS: Matthew Mulligan
Bathed in unassuming pastel pink, the interior of Cheesecake Dublin is soft and inviting. The pop-up shop joins its South William Street neighbours in offering simple but well-done fare. Selling nothing but cheesecake, the recently opened store seems determined to convert everyone’s favourite sweets to cake. Flavours such as Bounty, Yellow Snack Bar, Oreo and Mint Bubbly are available either as generously thick slices or in glass jars, showing the strata of base, cream cheese and topping covered with a gingham lid. Digging down into these pretty glass jars is a joy, excavating the goodness inside like an archaeologist deranged by their sweet tooth.
The cheesecake in a jar idea is so simple but, like so many novel ideas, the clean presentation and execution makes it a winner. The jar also allows for experimentation with texture, as unlike more solid baked cheesecake, the contents in the jars are creamy, filling and combine extremely well to create a cheeky alternative to a fancy yogurt. The Peanut M&M jar is a solid choice, retaining its shape well and delivering a subdued hint of roasted peanut following the sweet tang of cheese; while the Munchies option with its caramel and hunks of chocolate flows more like a yogurt and makes a perfect accompaniment to a coffee on a cold day. The flavours are unique but might turn-off some non-adventurous cheesecake eaters.
Pop-up shops can showcase the best products the city has to offer, this is also true for the emerging food pop-up. It’s great to see something different, a successor to frozen yogurt and milkshake shops. All the cheesecakes are homemade and depending on what day you walk into the store the variety of flavours available will be different too.
The shop is open 7 days a week from midday till 6.30. Traditional slices go for €3.95 and the cheesecake ecosystem jars are €4.50, with the addition of a 50c discount on your next purchase if you bring back the jar. While delicious, the prices lend themselves better to being an occasional treat or, more likely, a thoughtful gift. Obviously with pop-up shops there’s a limited run and funds are tight, so hopefully if Cheesecake Dublin does progress to a fully fledged store they’ll offer their cakes at lower prices. Full cheesecakes are also available to order and take out. As with other pop-up shops Dublin has seen, the word on Cheesecake Dublin is sure to spread and whenever it does vacate its current South William Street abode, it might not be too long before it opens up again in a more permanent home.
