Philosophizing About Food With Francine: Fudgy Chocolate Cake with Cheesecake Swirl

by Francine Black

Fudgy chocolate cake with cheesecake swirl! 

If we were to ask Olympic athletes today what foods they eat to maintain their near perfect fitness, they would probably talk about their scientifically planned nutritional needs: complex carbs, fruits, vegetables, proteins, hydration etc. Their food plans likely wouldn’t include chocolate or cheesecake either, for that matter (or at least not very often).

Cheesecake actually dates back at least 4,000 years to the country of Greece where those folks ate a version made of pounded hard cheese laced with grains and honey that was enjoyed as a very special wedding cake. The first Olympic Games were held centuries later in Greece in 776 BC and it was this exact ancient version of cheesecake that was served to those first Olympic athletes as it was considered to be an excellent nutritional energy source. I’m not sure what our modern athletes would think of that! 

When the Romans conquered Greece, they found the cheesecake quite tasty but added eggs and baked it in a pastry shell. 

By the Middle Ages that recipe had spread through Europe with each region using their preferred dairy, such as Neufchâtel in France, quark in Germany, or mascarpone in Italy. 

In 1872, New York dairy farmer William Lawrence accidentally created what we know as the Philadelphia brand cream cheese and by 1900, delis and restaurants had invented the classic New York style cheese cake using Philly.

The combination of chocolate and cheesecake is especially nice, creating a very moist and really quite delicious dessert. For an extra embellishment, the addition of a topping of sliced fresh strawberries is really lovely. 

As with all things sweet, moderation is key!

High in the mountains above Bally, where the dense groves of treetops seem to touch the sky, is Francine Black, Boyertown’s own version of chef Julia Child. Her daily activities reflect the things she most values: family and friends, music, and lovingly prepared food.

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