In case you’re wondering, Cheese Garden is not an export
from Japan. Although, it is inspired by all the pastries found in the area when
Ruka (owner) visited the country and decided to learn the recipes to bring
these confections back to Canada.
The Japanese cheesecake ($10) is widely found across the GTA
and probably the first thing people think about with Japanese cheese-based
baked goods. Cheese Garden’s is not as buttery as some of their competitors,
but is smoother while still retaining that fluffiness you expect from the cake.
My go-to way of sampling the cake is in three stages: fresh
from the shop; leaving in the fridge for at least 8 hours before a second
slice; and finally waiting a full 24 hours before having a last taste. On
previous occasions, I generally prefer the confection after a day in the
fridge. In the cold, the cake deepens and turns creamier. Oddly, with Cheese
Garden’s I actually preferred it fresh, possibly because it was so silky to
begin with.
What separates Cheese Garden from their competitors is their
expanded offering - they are not a single recipe pony. And if you like cheese their
double fromage cheesecake ($18.95) will make you swoon.
Inspired by the famous creation from LeTAO from Hokkaido,
the cake consists of two layers – the top frozen while the bottom baked. They
are sandwiched together amongst sponge cake bits, melding into one to give the
eater two flavours and consistencies.
If you’ve ever seen pictures of LeTAO’s version, there’s a
stark distinction between the frozen and baked layers (the bottom is darker).
Meanwhile, the colour variation at Cheese Garden is slight, but if you look
closely you’ll see the top frozen layer is smoother and less crumbly.
Following the directions, I left the cake at room
temperature for about half an hour before cutting. By this point, it was still
difficult to cut through and there was an icy consistency covering everything.
So, it went back into the fridge and after another 4 hours the second slice was
much better, the top layer softened and resembled an ice cream cake crossed
with tiramisu.
By the following day, still in the fridge as I didn’t want
to keep freezing and defrosting the cake, it turned even creamier, the top
layer seeping into the bottom and became what I’d call a cheesy trifle (without
all the fruit).
While the double fromage is only 4.5 inches, it’s really
rich. So, despite being small, I can see why the cake can feed six. The cheese
flavours are definitely more pronounced than the Japanese cheesecake, but still
light and mellower than western counterparts.
Having only sampled a third of Cheese Garden’s creations,
this is the bakery to go to if you don’t mind spending more for something
different. With a plethora of choices, perhaps it’s the excuse you need to
round up a group of cheese lovers for a tea party.
Disclaimer: The above cakes were complimentary. Rest assured, as noted in my mission statement, I will always provide an honest opinion.
Disclaimer: The above cakes were complimentary. Rest assured, as noted in my mission statement, I will always provide an honest opinion.
How To Find Them
Location: Toronto, Canada
Address: 5291 Yonge Street
Address: 5291 Yonge Street
Website: https://www.cheesegarden.ca/
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