JUNE 23, 2021
FOOD & WINE
THE SUN
19
Family is all you need Jennifer Geils CHEESECAKE CUTIE & CAFÉ
W
hen I think about a Family business, I envision walking into a restaurant and seeing grandma sitting at the cash register on her wooden stool just smiling at those who enter. I am not exactly sure why I think this way, because honestly, I have never walked into a restaurant, a shop or any other business and seen grandma sitting at a register. However, I do know what a family owned, and operated business is. Prior to us coming to AMI, we owned another familyowned business. Small family-owned businesses are the heart of this country and always have been. They are what have given so many the freedom to do exactly what they love doing and run it how they want to. They give women and men the means to provide for their families, but it does not come easy. It is a lot of hard hard work and sacrifice. Like so many of our great grandparents, mine came over to the U.S. on a boat from Italy. They knew they wanted a better life for themselves and to obtain the “American Dream”. They ended up opening a fish market in NYC in the mid-1950s. They worked hard and they too were family run and operated. My grandmother, her
sister and 2 brothers worked in that fish market until they sold it. They all worked together… as a family. Here at The Cheesecake Cutie & Café, it is all about family and family recipes as well. We all have family recipes that are passed down from generation to generation. Here we have been fortunate enough to take some of those treasured recipes and build what is quickly becoming a “Place to Visit” while on vacation in Holmes Beach. We have talked a lot about my mom’s 40-year-old cheesecake recipe, which I have changed the name to “Mom Knows Best”. Let’s be honest, that is usually the case with most moms, right? However, the café has a lot of family recipes that stem from Kane’s Mom to his very own. Then came the talk about our Italian & Greek dressing. Which is the secret recipe of his grandmother. She shared this recipe with only Kane. It was such a favorite among our holidays, that he is now sharing with the world. These 2 dressings have been loved so much that we have started to bottle them. Lady O’s Italian & Greek dressing is available to take a little bit of us “Cuties” back home with you. We make the dressings to order, so be sure to call if you have fallen in love with “The Little Joey” or “The Greek Hippie”. As of June 1st, we started Breakfast here at the Café. Our newest “Cutie Family” member, Lauren helped with the creation of the menu. Bringing her own recipes from her family and those that she made for her children growing up. The items are light
café style breakfast food, but do not hesitate to think that that they are any less delicious than our lunch menu. Each of them, are absolutely stunning in looks and in flavor. Our Cutie Baker, Caroline is to blame for the love of our Buckeyes. She found it in the stash of her mom’s recipes and there is something different yet delicious about them. Another item that we just can not seem to keep on the shelves. Amanda is our other Cutie Baker, and she brings her own love and flare of baking to our family. She continually creates new flavors of our beloved Crust Cookies. To all our KETO friends, you can thank her for the continued ideas of new KETO cheesecake options and fudge. Devan is from Maryland and for those who adore our fresh Old Bay Shrimp Salad… That is all her. We married my grandmother’s Shrimp Salad with her love and memories of Old Bay and we serve one heck of a Shrimp Salad. So, as you can see, Family is not always just about blood, it is about making connections with those who share an equal desire to be respected, to give respect, to laugh, to cry and to share in those life experiences. At our store, you are guaranteed to find a true family run business! You will find our children behind the counter, washing dishes or sticking stickers. Maybe we are old school, but to all of us here at The Cheesecake Cutie & Café, Family is what you will find when you walk through the doors and family is what we all need.
SUBMITTED
Greek Salad Ingredients
2 Large Cucumbers (Seeded Sliced & Halved) 2 Cups Halved Cherry Tomatoes ½ Cup Crumbled Feta Cheese ½ Red Onion (Thinly Sliced) ½ Cup Kalamata Olives (Halved)
Directions
Place all ingredients in a Bowl and lightly fold with your favorite Greek or Balsamic Dressing. Or stop by the Café and pick up a bottle of Lady O’s Greek Dressing for the perfect summer dish!
