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Chrisoula's is ...
Cheesseccake heaven
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| Chrisoula Hulion, the cheesecake artist, shows a sampler tray of individual cherry and turtle cheesecakes. Behind her is a variety of cheesecakes all made on the premises. |
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Mmmmmm ... Chrisoula's cheesecake is unlike any other cheesecake. Dense, but light. Sweet and rich, but not overpowering.
Chrisoula Hulion, owner of Chrisoula's Cheesecake Shoppe, grew up in the restaurant business, with dad Spero Athanasios owning Boy on a Dolphin on Pensacola Beach.
Chrisoula began making cheesecakes, baklava and Greek desserts while still young, then began baking for Athanasios' new venture, Café 22, a couple of years ago.
"I started making cheesecakes and baklava and I got a really good response," Hulion remembers, so she decided to start a business to bake for restaurants and offer her delights to the general public.
She located the spot for her store in the bend of Scenic Highway across from Hunan's, and now offers at least two dozen varieties of cheesecake on any given day, plus Greek pastries. The casual atmosphere features bistro tables and a beautiful view of the cheesecake
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| Cassy Cady-Smith enoys a Sundried Tomato Panini and a cup of Tomato Parmesan Couscous soup at Chrisoula's. |
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selection, a perfect place to sit and sample a slice of cheesecake for just $3.95. Enjoy it with a cold drink of a cup of authentic Greek coffee, made frothy and blended with honey, if that's your preference.
There is no secret to her success, except a fierce determination to use only quality ingredients.
"It's just fresh, fresh, the best ingredients you can get," Hulion says. Her cheesecakes are comparable to the authentic New York cheesecakes and have been requested from as far away as California.
The best selling varieties of cheesecake are New York (with a hint of lemon zest), Key Lime, Dark Chocolate, Turtle and White Chocolate Raspberry. However, there is always a variety of flavors available including Oreo, chocolate swirl, Mardi Gras (with purple and green icing), Blueberry, low fat, sugar free and an array of others. If there's a certain flavor you desire, Hulion is willing to custom bake it for you with a two-day notice.
If you cannot decide on one flavor, you can ask for a Sampler with 10 different slices to taste and enjoy.
You might say cheesecake is in the family DNA. Hulion's father was born on the Greek Isle of Samos, which is credited as the birthplace of cheesecake around 800 B.C.
Lunch is served at Chrisoula's daily and includes your choice of Spinach and Feta Panini, Basil Pesto Panini and Sun Dried Tomato Panini, each with chicken, mozzarella cheese, fresh tomato on French bread and pressed on the grill. Each is served with chips for $5.95 or an optional cup of fresh fruit for 69 cents more. Chrisoula's savory cheesecakes are the basis for the lunch paninis, and are delightful spread onto a cracker.
Soups vary daily, either Broccoli and Cheese, Tomato with 3 Cheeses, White Bean Chicken, Minestrone or Tomato Parmesan Couscous.
Chrisoula's cheesecakes are available in small (1 lb.) for $12.95; medium (2 lbs.) for $25.95 and large, (4 lbs.) for $37.95. You can also get one dozen mini cheesecakes for $19.95.
Chrisoula's is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 3101 East Cervantes St. in Pensacola.
For details, call 438-5650.
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