During my childhood, I have vivid memories of the delightful scent that would waft through our home whenever my Mom baked her delectable cheesecake. It was a time filled with warmth and happiness, as the aroma of the cheesecake baking in the oven would envelop us in a sense of comfort and joy. My Mom's love for my Dad was evident in everything she did, but her passion for her children, grandchildren, and great-granddaughter was equally strong. My mom nurtured everything she loved; her entire family, her hundreds of rose bushes, her exquisite sewing, her phenomenal cooking and definitely her over the top delicious baked goods. Despite our pleas, my Mom kept her cheesecake recipe a closely guarded secret. She was adamant about not sharing it with anyone, and we knew better than to push her on the matter. Her firmness in saying "no" was something we all respected, as we understood that some things were meant to remain special and exclusive. While hoping one day I would learn the secret to my Mom's cheesecake, she did pass down her knowledge of baking in other ways. Besides her cheesecake, she made outrageously delicious Citrus Bundt cakes, Angel Food Cakes, and Southern cobblers. Making cupcakes became a cherished tradition that she taught me from a young age, but the cheesecake recipe remained off-limits. It was a small price to pay for the joy of indulging in her delectable creations, and the memories of those moments spent together in the kitchen will always hold a special place in my heart.
As I came home after a long day at high school, my eyes widened in surprise at the sight that greeted me. Multiple fire engines were parked in the driveway and in front of our house, their flashing lights casting an eerie glow. It turned out that my mom had decided to surprise us with a homemade cheesecake, but things had taken a disastrous turn. In her excitement, she had accidentally let the cheesecake overcook, causing it to catch fire and engulf the entire kitchen in flames. It was a chaotic scene, but thankfully no one was hurt. However, that incident marked the end of my mom's cheesecake-making days. She declared, with a hint of sadness in her voice, that she would never attempt to bake a cheesecake again. Determined to carry on the tradition, I reassured my mom that I would take up the challenge of baking the perfect cheesecake one day. A mischievous grin spread across her face as she replied, "We shall see." Those words filled me with a glimmer of hope, knowing that she hadn't completely shut down the idea. Years passed, and as I entered my late twenties, my mom paid me a visit at my own home. She handed me a worn-out recipe card, her eyes twinkling with anticipation. "Go for the gusto," she encouraged me, "let's see how it turns out." Excitement surged through me as I eagerly embarked on my first attempt at recreating my mom's legendary cheesecake. The result was not exactly how I anticipated as it didn't quite capture the magic of my mom's cheesecake. I reached out to her, seeking guidance on how to improve my baking skills. She would simply say, "Add a pinch of this and a pinch of that, and see if it's just how you want it." With each practice, I honed my skills and gradually perfected the recipe to match my mom's signature taste. As the years went by, my cheesecakes became better and better, until I finally achieved the elusive perfection I had been striving for. Buoyed by my success, I began experimenting with different flavors and creative toppings, taking the cheesecake experience to new heights.
In the 1980s, I had a realization based on my extensive experience in catering and event planning. I knew that I should pursue a unique bakery/restaurant concept that would allow me to share my passion for creating delicious cheesecakes, as well as other delightful confectionery and culinary treats, with the public in a fun and delicious manner. Encouraged by both my Mom and Dad, I took the leap and opened The Kentucky Cheesecake Company in two prime locations in Louisville, KY. At that time, I had already crafted an impressive repertoire of over 115 different flavors of cheesecakes, along with a wide variety of delectable toppings and other culinary offerings for our menu. I was truly living my dream and thoroughly enjoying every moment of it. One of the highlights of my days was when my Dad would drop by unexpectedly , sit down, and savor a slice of cheesecake and/or a fresh out of the oven oatmeal chocolate chip cookie accompanied by a cup of hot tea. Despite being a dentist by profession, he had an undeniable sweet tooth! Our conversations during these visits were incredibly special to me, as my Dad would express his immense pride in the extraordinary path I had taken with my Mom's cherished cheesecake recipe. He would offer words of encouragement and provide me with invaluable suggestions to further enhance our offerings. In fact, he insisted that my two young daughters join me and work side by side, so that they could truly understand the power of dreams and how to turn them into reality. Sadly, my Dad passed away when I was just 34 years old, leaving behind a void that could never be filled. He was not only my dad but also my hero and my mentor. His unwavering support and belief in me will forever be treasured in my heart.
Each day after school and during the weekends, the two girls eagerly donned their aprons, ready to have a blast. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and I couldn't help but be inspired by their interactions with customers and their willingness to assist me in the kitchen. I expressively recall a particular incident when a customer walked in and handed me 50 cents for a sample. I was caught off guard and informed her that we didn't charge for samples. To my surprise, she mentioned that Heather, my youngest daughter had always given her a sample and charged 50 cents for it. We shared a hearty laugh at the mix-up, and from that day on, Heather never charged anyone for a sample again. It was a valuable lesson learned. It was evident that while the girls may have preferred spending time outdoors with their friends, they were gaining a valuable understanding of the concept of work from a young age. Heather, in particular, grasped the idea of earning money early on, but she quickly learned the importance of only charging for items that were priced. The girls' actions demonstrated to me that the creative spirit was being passed down to another generation.
During the early 90's my home had caught fire due to a space heater and it was a very traumatic time in our lives. I was presented an opportunity that was too good to pass up in South Florida; therefore, I viewed the pro and cons to not only say good-bye to The Kentucky Cheesecake Company, but where all my heritage had always been. South Florida bound I was. It was a bittersweet moment for me when I embarked on a new chapter of my life in the vibrant surroundings of South Florida. I knew in my heart one day I would return to Louisville. The transition; however, brought about a wave of happiness, with my oldest daughter joining the Navy and my youngest daughter falling in love with the charm of South Florida. Despite the change in location, I remained dedicated to my passion for catering and event planning. Specializing in cheesecake wedding cakes and creating delectable cheesecake extravaganza bars for various social and corporate events, I continued to bring joy to people's taste buds. My love for making a positive impact on children's lives was equally important to me. Hence, I actively pursued and still engage in philanthropic endeavors that benefit the well-being of children. As I bid farewell to Kentucky, I carried with me a deep-rooted belief that one day, I would pay tribute to my beloved Mom by opening another cheesecake concept. The cheesecake concept, which has always been my true destiny and passion, would serve as a testament to the love and admiration I held for my mom.
In the 2000's a new decade began and a new a new chapter unfolded in my life as I made the bold decision to leave South Florida behind and embark on a new adventure in Los Angeles. For a decade, I poured my heart and soul into my event planning and catering business, immersing myself in the vibrant culture of the city of angels. As years passed, my youngest daughter, Heather, moved from South Florida to join me in Los Angeles. Although Heather's true passion is her undeniable abilities to advocate for the betterment and well-being of all animals, she also desired to walk in her grandmother's shoes. She conveyed that she could do both at the same time. Although, my older daughter, Melissa, always loved the cheesecake concept, she also wanted to pursue her dreams that fulfilled her life in the Midwest. Heather and I set out as a mother-daughter team to create a unique concept that would capture the hearts of kids of all ages and introduced the Cheesecake Concoctions concept in 2018. We made our plan and planned our work! With our five dogs in tow, we embarked on a journey across the country to Louisville, KY, where we felt inspired to revive the cheesecake legacy. In the fall of 2019, we proudly opened the doors to Poshy Noshy Concoctions Eatery and Sweetery, a tribute to my mother's Poshy spirt and love of noshing. Our establishment quickly became a beloved spot in Louisville, offering a delectable array of southern freshly prepared cuisine, Grand's Original Kentucky Cheesecake along with other flavors and toppings, a variety of our other mouthwatering desserts and some of the most refreshing cold, hot and frozen beverages. Our customers embraced our concept wholeheartedly, filling our bakery/café with laughter and joy on a daily basis. Customers could shop in the antique mall and sit down for a delicious lunch and/or yummy sweet treats in a quaint cozy atmosphere. We had grand plans for the future, brimming with excitement and anticipation for the years ahead. However, the unforeseen arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020 brought an abrupt end to our journey in Louisville, KY, as the permanent closure of the Derby City Antique Mall left us and 50 other vendors facing an uncertain future.
It was a complete shock to go from thriving in business one day to suddenly being completely out of business the next. Our hearts were broken, and we were left to ponder our next steps. Louisville, KY held a special place in our hearts for various reasons, from our love for the city, the countryside, and to our Southern deep roots there. After much contemplation, we felt it would be best to head back to South Florida, where we had family residing. It seemed like the perfect opportunity for a fresh start in both our personal lives and our business endeavors. We quickly settled into our new surroundings and began the search for a suitable location to re-establish our business. I once received some wise advice that stuck with me - "persevere in the face of obstacles, view them as stepping stones rather than roadblocks and look at everything with a positive attitude." With a positive attitude and determination, we brought our eatery/sweetery to Jupiter, Florida amidst the challenges of the pandemic in 2021. We didn't think twice about opening during the pandemic because we knew the cheesecake and our other sweet treats would speak for themselves.
Despite the hurdles we encountered, such as opening during a pandemic, we refused to let setbacks deter us. Our cheesecake quickly became the talk of the town, the southern cuisine was loved by all, and the atmosphere was adored by kids of all ages! We garnering rave reviews and a loyal customer base. However, it became apparent that the location did not align with our ultimate vision for the business. Even though Heather and I both battled Covid -19 twice while running the business alone, we persevered . After nearly two years in the Jupiter location, we knew it was time to seek out the perfect spot that would truly complement our concept. Although we definitely enjoyed our customers love for the southern style culinary aspect of the bakery/café, it is without a doubt the confectionery part was and will always be where are our hearts are. With that being said, Heather and I missed Kentucky so much, we decided the best idea was to bring our cheesecake concept back to Louisville, Kentucky, where it all began!
We believe nostalgia never tasted so sweet as we recreate our cheesecake concept moving forward. The historic legacy of Mom's “fresh-never-frozen cheesecake” will allow kids of all ages to have a sweet time-traveled taste at our Cheesecake Concoctions Parlor! In addition to opening Cheesecake Concoctions Parlor retail store in the near future, we are expanding into wholesaling for the hospitality industry; thus, thousands of people will have the opportunity to enjoy the awesomeness of our cheesecakes and other sweets.
Starting with Mom, who perfected the recipe over the years, the tradition continues through Heather and I with a new addition! From mother to daughter to granddaughter to great- granddaughter! My granddaughter and Heather’s niece, Davina, is super excited to be making Cheesecake Concoctions Parlor a 4 generation concept. We are thrilled beyond words. Heather and Davina's close relationship adds another layer of warmth and joy to the family tradition of baking together. Davina's eagerness to learn and be a part of the baking process mirrors the same enthusiasm and passion that her Aunt Heather has for the family recipe. Our shared love for spending time together, whether it's concocting yummy ideas, baking, or engaging in creative activities, strengthens the bond between us and reinforces the importance of family connections. As Davina becomes more involved in the everyday baking tradition, she not only learns valuable skills but also inherits the legacy of love and togetherness that has been a hallmark of the family for 4 generations.
"Cheesecake Concoctions Parlor" looks forward for you to indulge in a confectionery experience like no other, where you can create your own mouthwatering concoction of flavors that will surely feel like a "party in your mouth!" Our menu boasts a wide variety of both sweet, creamy cheesecakes , as well as savory and delectable cheesecakes for those looking for a unique twist on this classic dessert. To fill you in on a little secret, we love baking Mom's Angel Food Cake, Citrus Bundts, Heather and Davina's Bestie's Brownies and Grandpa's Cookies! Whether you have a sweet tooth or prefer something more savory, we have something for everyone to enjoy in our bit of sweet nostalgia. Please know you can enjoy our sweet and savory cheesecakes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks throughout the day or anytime you need a sweet pick me up!
Even though my Mom passed away in 1995, her presence is still felt every day in the little things that remind us of her. From the sight of a cardinal flying by to the blooming roses in the garden to the aroma in air of cheesecake, we are constantly reminded of her love and wisdom. Her parting words of wisdom to the three of us have stayed with us through the years, guiding us in our endeavors and bringing us closer together as a family. Her legacy lives on through the cherished cheesecake recipe that she passed down, a recipe that has brought joy to so many and continues to be a symbol of love and connection.
Our journey with Mom's cheesecake recipe has been a rollercoaster ride, brimming with both triumphs and tribulations, yet it has bestowed upon invaluable wisdom and forged everlasting memories. While the names of our cheesecake endeavors may have evolved over time, the essence of our mouthwatering creations remains unaltered.
Grand’s Original Kentucky Cheesecake has truly lived up to its name embodying everything grand. More importantly she cherished that her grandchildren affectionately called her Grand. It has been an ideal combination; A delectable delicious cheesecake and a beautiful legacy!
As I will continue to pay tribute to Mom's enduring legacy through the delectable delight of "Grand's Original Kentucky Cheesecake," I, also, want to thank my dad who I am eternally grateful for the indomitable spirit and fervor that he instilled in me, empowering me to carry forward this cherished tradition with unwavering pride. Mom and Dad's presence is palpable in every painstaking effort we invest to make them proud, knowing that their boundless love and unwavering guidance will forever accompany the three of us as we script the next captivating chapters of our extraordinary tale. I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU MOM AND DAD. THANK YOU FOR BEING THE BEST PARENTS EVER! SANDY
********* To our beloved customers, past and present, Words can't express the depth of our gratitude for your loyalty and support over the years. You are the heart and soul of our business, and we're forever changed by the incredible people we've met along the way. Your stories, smiles, and kind words have filled our bakery, cafe, and catering, event planning and special events with joy that spills over into every aspect of what we do.
We're humbled by the trust you've placed in us to be a part of your celebrations, milestones, and everyday moments. And we're deeply grateful for the precious friendships that have blossomed from these connections. You've become like family to us, and for that, we're eternally thankful.
As we look to the future, we can't wait to meet the new faces and stories that will walk through our lives. Here's to many more years of love, laughter, and making memories together! With heartfelt thanks, Sandy, Heather and Davina