Any time you choose to include a truly luscious cheesecake as your dessert, make certain its appearance on the serving plate is as elegant as the as the sweet morsel, itself. A dinner or even a casual barbeque, especially at the finish, should stimulate the visual sense too. Here are some ideas, but, of course, you may use your own individual creativity.
New York Cheesecake: This is what most people would think of as the plain or “unflavored” cheesecake. Frankly, it is anything but unflavored! However, the taste is one that will adjust well to almost all additions. Well, perhaps not asparagus! I suggest that you consider complimenting the rich flavor of this versatile cheesecake by drizzling a healthy amount of hot caramel topping around the plate.
Berry Cheesecakes come in a variety of berry alternatives. My favorite is actually the rather rare Marionberry, found only in Oregon but available in cheesecakes at EliteCheesecakes.com. The most clear choice for adding pizzazz and beauty to the plate would be to add fresh berries matching those of the dessert.
Key Lime Cheesecake is a balance of sweet and slightly sour. Especially during the holidays--but not only then--consider placing fresh or frozen cranberries on the plate. As an alternative, a traditional,cranberry sauce is a nice touch too.
Chocolate Cheesecake: Place shavings of dark, unsweetened chocolate on and around the cake wedge. You can not possibly have enough chocolate!
Sugar Free Cheesecakes--no sugar added: No matter what the flavor of the cheesecake, a mint sprig atop the widest part of the dessert, will dress it up wonderfully without additional sweetness.
The visual appearance of the plate impacts the presentation as much as what you place on it. Of course, your everyday dishes will serve your purpose. But the expanded storage space in modern kitchens allow many hosts and hostesses to have more creative alternatives. People have individual salt servers and soup crocks, as opposed to the typical bowls. Why not choose plates that you use only for those spectacular dessert occasions?
Cheesecakes are a wonderful--and somewhat financially dear--addition to a special meal or a simple barbeque. Dedicate a bit of your planning time to enhance the rich taste of this remarkable marvelous dessert with your individual additions.
