by TM Petaccia

If you need an excuse, July 30 is your official go-ahead to indulge into a slice of that rich, creamy delight called cheesecake. National Cheesecake Day has been celebrated in some form since the 1980s, but really took off after the turn of the century. The dessert itself has ancient roots. Records reveal in ancient Greece, it was served to athletes during the first Olympic Games in 776 B.C. The Romans later adopted the recipe, adding their own twist with crushed cheese and eggs baked under hot bricks.

Today, there are a wide range of versions, the most popular being New York-style, known for its ultra-smooth mouthfeel. There is also Philly style, originating in the German-American neighborhood bakeries there — slightly more coarse, and often topped with cinnamon. No-bake cheesecakes gained popularity in the 1950s and remain a go-to recipe for many home cooks. Basque cheesecakes, originating in Spain, are baked at high temperatures, creating a deep caramelized top with a custard center. Italian cheesecakes typically use ricotta or mascarpone instead of cream cheese. The very Instagram-friendly Japanese cheesecakes are almost soufflé like in their tall, bouncy airiness.

Here are some of our favorite places in and around Charlotte to enjoy this treasured favorite. But, be honest. You don’t really need an excuse, do you?

---

300 East, Dilworth

From Ashley Boyd to the current pasty chef, Alexa Druhan, this restaurant has produced a long line of the city’s outstanding pastry chefs and most memorable desserts — including cheesecake. There is just about always a cheesecake option for dessert — and always creatively conceived, well-executed, and artfully presented. The current cheesecake special is a peach and mascarpone cheesecake with corn crumble which also happens to be gluten-free. It’s in the Italian style, but with a little down-home Southern twist.

---

Chocolatier Barrucand, Concord

The chocolate and pastry fantasyland that Ann Marie and Jean Luc Barrucand have owned and operated since 2008 is filled many toothsome temptations, including a wide variety of of mini-cheesecakes that are almost too pretty to eat. Almost.

---

Cyntucci’s Bakery, Mooresville

Another trip up the interstate takes you to full-service bakery in the New York-New Jersey tradition offering, breads, Italian cookies, and a variety of pastries including a NY-style cheesecake. Definitely worth the trip.

---

The Everyday Market, LoSo / Belmont (town)

Since leaving Bistro La Bon in 2017, Majid Amoorpour returned to his pastry roots by opening The Everyday Market on Main Street in Belmont and following that up with a newer LoSo location of the concept. Among his numerous pastry offerings, there are usually are few variations of cheesecake to enjoy in shop or take home.

---

Landmark Diner, Windsor Park

That dessert case hits you in the face as soon as you walk in and it’s impossible not to leave without having a slice of the house NY-style cheesecake — plus one to take home.

---

Rare Roots Restaurants, multiple locations

“Mom’s Cheesecake” — made popular at Dressler’s Restaurant in Midtown — can now be enjoyed at all the other Rare Roots concepts, including Chapter 6, Fin & Fino, The Porter’s House, Dogwood, and Joan’s Bakery, where the dessert is now centrally made for all locations. It is the quintessential NY-style cheesecake, with a buttery graham cracker crust.

---

Renaissance Pâtisserie, SouthPark

Chef Sylvain Rivet’s SouthPark pâtisserie and eatery stay very busy from open to close — and with a jewel-like pastry case which includes tasty variations of French cheesecakes, we fully understand why.

---

Villani’s Bakery, Plaza Midwood-Belmont

Their website lists 29 different flavors of cheesecake, and on any given day, you’ll find a good many of them waiting for you in the Pecan Avenue case. Available whole or by the slice, there’s a flavor to satisfy any craving. A big plus is that they are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. six days a week (closed Mondays), so you can get your cheesecake fix as soon as after just waking up or a final sweet taste of the day before going to bed.