Paddy’s Day: Got relatives over in the U.S.A? Want to send them a Paddy’s Day pressie? Then check this out.
Green cheesecake: Americans are very good at taking a little Irish festival and making it into a massive big deal. Samhain became Halloween, and St Patrick’s Day became …. How would you even describe what they did to it. But it’s awesome.
Now, it is even more awesome. Because there’s green cheesecake.
Two Chicago icons, Eli’s Cheesecake and Green River Soda, have teamed up to create Eli’s Green River Cheesecake.
This is a cheesecake you want. It is rich and creamy, it’s neon lime, topped with lime gelee, baked on Eli’s signature all-butter shortbread cookie crust, and, of course, made with real Green River flavouring.
Paddy’s Day: Green Soda
The timeline goes like this: Green River Soda was introduced in 1919, as Congress was passing the18th Amendment establishing Prohibition. After that, no alcohol was allowed.
That’s when The Schoenhofen Brewery, residing in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, decided to fill their old beer bottles with the soon-to-be-famous vivid green lime soda instead.
Green River became a huge hit, trailing only Coca-Cola in popularity. In 2021, historic Green River was acquired by Sprecher Brewery, Milwaukee’s original craft brewery known for its award-winning root beer and craft soda.
Paddy’s Day: Neon Lime
In 1980, Eli Schulman declared Cheesecake to be the signature dessert at his restaurant, Eli’s The Place for Steak, a Chicago legend for over 40 years. In his restaurant’s kitchen, he dreamed up a new way of baking cheesecake. Known as “Chicago-Style,” his creation is famous for its beautiful caramelization, rich and creamy texture, and all-butter shortbread cookie crust. Still a family-owned business, Chicago’s favorite dessert is handmade and decorated at Eli’s Cheesecake World, on Chicago’s Northwest side.
After many years of serving Green River at Eli’s Cheesecake’s annual reception for Chicago’s St Patrick’s Day Queen and her court, the two Chicago icons joined forces, and in 2020, Eli’s Green River Cheesecake was born.
It’s a Big Deal, Okay?
Marc Schulman, Eli’s president, said, “St. Patrick’s Day is a big deal in Chicago. The City dyes the river bright green, and Green River Cheesecake is another fun and festive way to celebrate.”
If you want to send this cheesecake to your relatives in the USA, then it will cost you USD$59.95 plus shipping. Get one here.
Green River Soda is available here.
Happy St Patrick’s Day from all of us at Old Moore’s Almanac!
Like St Patrick’s Day stories? Then click here.
