Guava Cheesecake at August Moon

Have you ever had one of those experiences where you take a bite of something, and just know that you have to try to make it. Yep, I'm one of those people, who likes to dabble in the kitchen from time-to-time, but at the same time knowing that, I can go out and purchase whatever it is I'm interested in making.

Well, one taste of the Guava Cheesecake at Alexandra Lynch's August Moon Cafe was to-die-for, sent me running to my kitchen to try my hand at one. And I wanted it nice and thick too, so I proceeded to make a cake with two pounds of cream cheese which I poured into a nine-inch pan - the result, a cake that looked pretty, and had me salivating as I waited to cut into it - but of course I had to restrain myself as it had to be refrigerated overnight.

Dying with anticipation the next morning, I got a knife, cut into it, and was miserable to find the amount of filling that came out on the knife, which signaled the fact that the cake was undercooked. I tasted it all the same, and it tasted good, but it was simply not cooked all the way through, and a disappointment for me. The cake ended up in the trash.

But I live by that motto that goes 'If at first you don't succeed, try, try again,' so I'll definitely be trying my hand again at my version of Lynch's cheesecake, which had the guava essence in the batter, and was served with a dollop of whipped cream and toasted, sliced almonds.

Guess what, I'd purchased whipped cream and sliced almonds too. Both remain unopened.

The good thing is that I know where to go for a perfect delicious slice when I really want one - straight to Alexandra.

Actually, thinking back over the debacle, I think I took the cake out of the oven too early for the thickness that I was baking, thinking it would firm up in the refrigerator. Next time Shavaughn, next time.

I lamented my cheesecake debacle to a couple of chef friends, who said to me that the next time I should try using a thickening agent, so maybe I'll try that route. You see, being in the kitchen is all about experimentation until you get it right to your specifications.

But imagine my surprise when I visited Samantha Moree's Something's Different Gifts yesterday, and what did she have Guava Cheesecake, so I proceeded to 'bend her ear' about my experience, wondering if she could solve my problem. Unfortunately she couldn't either, because whereas Lynch's cheesecake had the fruit in the batter, Moree's was a cheesecake topped with guava. She went into her little den of magic, also known as her kitchen, and emerged with a slice of cheesecake with guava topping, which made up for my debacle.

But right now, I've still got Guava Cheesecake on my mind, and because I don't like saying I failed at something in the kitchen, I'm going to go at it again. I'm going to get it right if it kills me.

By Shavaughn Moss
The Nassau Guardian
April 7, 2009