JonCake, a renowned Barcelona pastry shop, has won the prestigious Best Cheesecake in Catalonia award. The shop received the honour at the fourth edition of the cheesecake contest, held during the Lactium festival in Vic last weekend.
Barcelona Pastry Shop Takes Top Honour
The contest saw record participation this year, with over 30 entries from across Catalonia. Participants had to include a minimum of 20% artisan Catalan cheese in their recipes. They also followed a specific baking method. Prestigious pastry chef Ricard Martínez directed the jury. The jury tasted each entry, evaluating both technique and quality. "We worked with a wide variety of high-quality artisan Catalan cheeses," Martínez highlighted. He added, "The quality of cheesecake continues to grow, showing clear evolution. Each edition becomes more complex and demanding, which drives the contest forward."
JonCake's Rise to Prominence
Architect Jon García founded JonCake in 2021. Since its opening, the pastry shop has gained immense popularity throughout Catalonia. It uses high-quality ingredients such as Blau de Búfula cheese, Garrotxa from Muntanyola creamery, and l'Esquella cream cheese. These ingredients and its unique presentation have established JonCake as a cheesecake destination in Barcelona. The brand operates three locations in the city. Its original shop is in the Born neighbourhood. JonCake & Wine, which pairs cheesecakes with wines, is located on Gelabert street in the Les Corts district. The newest opening is in the Poblenou neighbourhood. García commented in a 2024 interview with 'hellochefs' magazine, "The Born shop is now a mandatory stop for anyone visiting Barcelona. Between 700 and 800 people pass through every day, which is incredible. For 4,000 people to visit JonCake weekly seems crazy, these are enormous numbers. This is especially true considering it is not a basic necessity, and you often have to queue for an hour."
Lactium Festival Celebrates Catalan Cheese
Vic became the capital of artisan cheese during the 18th edition of Lactium, the annual festival dedicated to cheese and dairy products. The event, held in Jaume Balmes Park, attracted 22,000 visitors. It featured over 200 products. The festival also hosted a contest for the best artisan cheese, which the El Ninot creamery won. Vic City Council reported the cheesecake contest's record participation.
A Rich History of Cheesecake
Cheesecake has a long history, with origins tracing back over 4,000 years to the Greek island of Samos. Early versions reportedly contained fresh cheese, flour, and honey. The Romans later adopted the recipe, adding eggs and serving it warm. The modern version, using cream cheese, became popular in New York in the 1920s. This was largely due to Arnold Reuben, a New York restaurant owner. Since then, the recipe has travelled globally, establishing itself in countries like Japan, Australia, and Spain. The famous Basque cheesecake, known for its toasted exterior and creamy interior, emerged in San Sebastián during the late 1990s. García noted, "Cheesecake existed in 600 BC. The New York cheesecake appeared in 1930. It was once a trend, but it has endured, with the last ten years seeing more public interest in the Basque style. It is a product that will always be popular, like a croissant."
JonCake's recent award further solidifies Barcelona's position in the global culinary scene. The win highlights the growing appreciation for high-quality artisan products and local ingredients in Catalonia.
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Originally published by El Periódico Barcelona. Read original article.
