Cheesecake overload: Masse’s versus Reuschelle’s
I wish I could be like Hikaru, eating 20 cakes in 3.5 hours. Then I could go to cake shops like Masse, ask for every beauty of the day and not worry about missing out on any flavor. Wouldn’t life be so sweet then?
But maybe I don’t have to be like Hikaru. Minus the pastries and the cookies, Masse has only about 10 cakes on display, most of them are available in small size (because they don’t sell by the slices like Crixa Cakes); if I skip dinner and invite a friend, we could easily bring down all of them in one sitting, don’t you think? Danielle and I tried only two this time, though. Five bucks each, round and pretty and screaming “Got your spoon ready?”
The mocha walnut chocolate cake was a fun little one: I thought about peeling off its white, woody patterned wrapper but it turned out the wrapper was white chocolate. 😀 The caramelized walnut base proved a mild and coarse complement to the thick, creamy layers of dark chocolate cake, chocolate Bavarian cream and espresso mousse. Its richness is complemented by its stark coffee flavor. Just now, I realize the cake looks like a cup of coffee with two stirring straws. 🙂
But the main reason we came here was the cheesecake. The soft, subtly briny ricotta is wrapped up in a coat of hazelnut shavings and topped with a refreshing guava glaze. The glaze actually tastes too sweet and too fruitily generic to be guava, though. Regardless, when I combined a spoon of cheesecake with a spoon of mocha cake, I saw fireworks just like Remy.
——————
A few days later…
——————
I found out about Reuschelle’s. Victor Reuschelle says “[his cheesecake (I think)] is like heaven on a fork!”. I think it’s pretty heavenly that he offers delivery for free within 20 miles of the East Bay (in fact, there’s no physical store to visit).
Reuschelle’s Cheesecake is a one-man operation: Victor receives order via phone or email, Victor makes the cake, Victor delivers. Victor says ordering 4 days in advance would be best, but he makes exceptions based on what he has and what his schedule looks like. I ordered yesterday afternoon and the cheesecakes arrived this morning. The best deal is the 4-flavor sample of four 3-inch cheesecakes for $20, and unlike sampler plates in restos, you get to pick the flavors from a thousand choices on Reuschelle’s list. Okay, so it’s 57, but Victor says custom made is no problemo.
Clockwise from top left: Red Velvet, Original, Raspberry Lemonade, and Sweet Potato. I had my reasons for such picks. I wanted the original cheesecake flavor the way I want the original pho brought straight from the kitchen to the table, unadulterated by sauces or herbs. The red velvet is a playing-safe choice because it has chocolate. I haven’t seen sweet potato flavor in desserts. Raspberry and lemonade sound tart enough to temper the cheese.
Heaven forbids, these cheesecakes are no joke to get tempered by fruits. The Sweet Potato is a twin of the country pumpkin pie. The raspberry hint is stronger than the lemonade hint, but neither can emerge from the dense, creamy grasp of the cheese. The cocoa in the Red Velvet? Got lost. They’re good cheesecakes, but they’re all the same.
At Masse, North Shattuck, Berkeley. What happened to the boy's pants?
Thinking back, I’ve come across Reuschelle’s bites at Ghiradelli Square chocolate festival last September. He just started his business a few months before that. I like Victor’s casual friendliness, his delivery option, and his thrive for varieties, but if I must compare Masse’s one cheesecake with Reuschelle’s four, Masse’s wins. The fruit glaze makes the cake more dessert-like and less cheese-tray like, the hazelnut shavings break the textural homogeneity. The prices? Reuschelle’s a bit steeper, but you get the cake at your door.
And no, I couldn’t finish 4 mini 3″ cheesecakes in one sitting. Ninety percent of them are hanging out with the spinach and the pork chops in my fridge. Would you like some?
Address: Masse’s Pastries
1469 Shattuck Avenue (across the street from Safeway)
Berkeley, CA 94709
(510) 649-1004
www.massespastries.com
No-address: Reuschelle’s Cheesecake (aka Victor Reuschelle)
Telephone: (510) 219-2997
E-mail: reuschelle@gmail.com
www.reuschelles.com
I’m curious to find out what blog system you happen to be using? I’m experiencing some small security problems with my latest website and I’d like to find something more safeguarded. Do you have any suggestions?
1Very interesting topic, thanks for putting up.
2Simply wanna input on few general things, The website layout is perfect, the content is rattling fantastic : D.
3It is actually a great and helpful piece of information. I’m happy that you just shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
4Whats up very cool web site!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds alsoKI am satisfied to search out so many useful info here within the publish, we need develop more strategies on this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
5WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share..more wait .. …
6Good site! I really love how it is easy on my eyes and the data are well written. I’m wondering how I might be notified when a new post has been made. I have subscribed to your RSS feed which must do the trick! Have a nice day!
7Great post however I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this topic? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Kudos!
8You have remarked very interesting details! ps decent website . “‘Tis a sharp medicine, but it will cure all that ails you. — last words before his beheadding” by Sir Walter Raleigh.
9Thanks , I’ve recently been looking for information about this topic for ages and yours is the best I’ve discovered so far. But, what about the conclusion? Are you sure about the source?
10Oh my goodness! an amazing article dude. Thanks Nonetheless I’m experiencing problem with ur rss . Don’t know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anyone getting equivalent rss problem? Anyone who knows kindly respond. Thnkx
11Hey very nice blog!! Guy .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds also?KI am happy to search out a lot of useful info right here within the submit, we need develop extra strategies in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .
12I’ve read several excellent stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how a lot attempt you place to create this type of magnificent informative website.
13Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back frequently!
14I think other web-site proprietors should take this web site as an model, very clean and wonderful user friendly style and design, as well as the content. You’re an expert in this topic!
15Your home is valueble for me. Thanks!…
16Excellent read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing some research on that. And he just bought me lunch as I found it for him smile Thus let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!
17Hello my friend! I want to say that this article is awesome, nice written and come with almost all significant infos. I would like to see extra posts like this.
18Hello, i think that i saw you visited my blog thus i came to “return the favor”.I’m trying to find things to enhance my web site!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!!
19fantastic issues altogether, you just received a emblem new reader. What would you suggest about your put up that you made some days ago? Any positive?
20Hi , I do believe this is an excellent blog. I stumbled upon it on Yahoo , i will come back once again. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and help other people.
21I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back down the road. Cheers
22Wow! This can be one particular of the most beneficial blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Fantastic. I’m also an expert in this topic so I can understand your effort.
23I’ve been browsing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the net will be a lot more useful than ever before.
24Hey there would you mind letting me know which web host you’re utilizing? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most. Can you suggest a good web hosting provider at a fair price? Many thanks, I appreciate it!
25Today, I went to the beach front with my kids. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is totally off topic but I had to tell someone!
26I’ve been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or weblog posts in this sort of space . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this website. Studying this information So i am glad to exhibit that I’ve an incredibly just right uncanny feeling I came upon exactly what I needed. I so much definitely will make certain to don’t overlook this website and provides it a glance on a constant basis.
27I am commenting to let you know of the extraordinary discovery my child found browsing yuor web blog. She came to find many things, not to mention what it’s like to possess an ideal teaching mood to get most people quite simply understand several extremely tough issues. You truly surpassed her expected results. Thanks for providing those interesting, safe, edifying and also fun guidance on this topic to Lizeth.
28I like this site its a master peace ! Glad I detected this on google .
29It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d definitely donate to this superb blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will share this blog with my Facebook group. Talk soon!
30Aw, this was a really nice post. In concept I want to put in writing like this additionally – taking time and actual effort to make a very good article… however what can I say… I procrastinate alot and on no account seem to get one thing done.
31You should participate in a contest for top-of-the-line blogs on the web. I’ll advocate this site!
32There are definitely a whole lot of particulars like that to take into consideration. That may be a nice level to deliver up. I offer the thoughts above as normal inspiration however clearly there are questions just like the one you convey up where crucial factor shall be working in trustworthy good faith. I don?t know if greatest practices have emerged around issues like that, but I’m positive that your job is clearly identified as a good game. Both girls and boys feel the impression of only a moment’s pleasure, for the remainder of their lives.
33I gotta favorite this internet site it seems invaluable handy
34You got a very fantastic website, Gladiola I detected it through yahoo.
35I have recently started a blog, the information you offer on this site has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work. “Never trust anybody who says ‘trust me.’ Except just this once, of course. – from Steel Beach” by John Varley.
36What i don’t realize is actually how you’re not actually much more well-liked than you may be now. You’re so intelligent. You realize therefore significantly relating to this subject, made me personally consider it from numerous varied angles. Its like women and men aren’t fascinated unless it is one thing to do with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs outstanding. Always maintain it up!
37Hi there, I found your blog via Google while searching for a related topic, your site came up, it looks good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
38Good day! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and tell you I really enjoy reading through your articles. Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the same subjects? Thanks for your time!
39Awsome blog! I am loving it!! Will be back later to read some more. I am bookmarking your feeds also
40Thanks for helping out, superb information.
41I’m usually to blogging and i really recognize your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your website and hold checking for brand new information.
42horse gelatin trick
43I am forever thought about this, thanks for putting up.
44I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your website. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme? Great work!
45Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back and help others like you aided me.
46This is a topic close to my heart cheers, where are your contact details though?
47Great write-up, I’m normal visitor of one’s website, maintain up the excellent operate, and It’s going to be a regular visitor for a long time.
48Some truly choice blog posts on this site, saved to my bookmarks.
49I was recommended this blog by way of my cousin. I’m now not positive whether this publish is written through him as no one else recognise such targeted about my problem. You are amazing! Thank you!
50