Eileen's Special Cheesecake

My parents have been going to Eileen's Special Cheesecake for years and years and years, and it's definitely one of their favorite places to go for a special occasion.  I've had their cheesecakes before once or twice, and I've always liked it.  I'm not really a cheesecake person, but I always enjoyed those occasions when there was a cheesecake from Eileen's sitting on our dining room table for dessert.  When I told my dad that I wanted to start visiting and blogging about different bakeries and specialty food shops in New York City, he pretty much ordered me to make a stop at Eileen's, saying that it was a tiny shop that was full of character and delicious cheesecakes.  Having only eaten Eileen's cheesecakes in my house and never actually been there, I figured it would be an excellent idea. 

Conveniently, one day last week when I checked my email, there happened to be a Google offer for $10 worth of Eileen's Special Cheesecake desserts...that's just too perfect.  I bought it that second and planned on going Saturday afternoon.  Yesss, weekend plans were complete! 

Levain Bakery

Sorry this post is getting published today rather than yesterday. It was totally meant for Sunday, it really really was.  It just didn't happen though.  Classes have been going on for only two weeks and I've already had my first all-nighter in studio (aka work until 5:50 am, go to sleep at 6:15 am, wake up at 8 am for 9 am studio class).  Sigh, so much work to do, in so little time.  There was just too much work to be done yesterday.  So sleepy…hopefully this will be mildly coherent. 

Let's talk cookies. That should wake me up I think.  Let's start at the beginning.  

Ladurée

Ok, so this is obviously not a recipe that I have prepared myself.  I think that's pretty clear. You also know that up until this point, I have been baking everything on this blog and taking photos of everything that I've baked for this blog myself.  Up until now…up until classes began again, at least.

I have to be totally blunt with everyone and just say that I know for a fact that I will have neither the time nor the resources to bake and photograph food that is up to my standards to put on this blog for everyone to see.  I mean, right now, my work load isn't THAT bad…but by the end of this week, I'm pretty sure I'll start to feel a bit overwhelmed with all my assignments and readings that need to be completed.  For instance, my Design I studio class met for literally thirty minutes on Wednesday, and by my next class (on Monday), I need to have working study models, sketches, and my portfolio somewhat organized for my professor to critique…oh boy.  So yeah.  By the time midterms and studio reviews begin to come around, I will be way too crazy, stressed, and sleep-deprived to want to bake anything, or write anything that is even remotely coherent.  HOWEVER.  I came up with a plan.