Cheesecake Queen Reigns Supreme

Lisa Dosch of Ramsey, crowned the Cheesecake Queen, took first place for the second year in a row at the 2013 N.J. State Fair. This year, Dosch‘s Blueberry Cheesecake won 1st place in the Blueberry Contest, her Plain Cheesecake won 1st place and her Coconut Cheesecake won 2nd place in the Cheesecake Contest. Dosch's Perfect Pecan Pie Bars also took 1st place in the Cookie Bar category. Last year Dosch won first place for both the plain cheesecake category and the flavor category for her Pumpkin Cheesecake. 

In trying to decide which cake to enter into this year's flavor category, Dosch got creative--she let the customers at her family-owned West Gate Restaurant in Nyack, N.Y., where her cakes are sold, decide for her. Dosch set up a People’s Choice and, after more than 100 submissions, the People's Choice was coconut. 

“I’m constantly asked which is my favorite and I honestly can say they all are," Dosch said. "I created each one after flavors that I love." 

According to Dosch, each cake has such a full body of flavor, creaminess and taste, and such unique crusts that it makes it difficult for her to choose her favorite.  

"The Pumpkin has some sentimental meaning and I love the flavor with the gingersnap pecan crust," she said. "But, the Espresso is made with Kahlua which really adds a nice rich coffee flavor." 

Her Amaretto cheesecake is made with Amaretto Di Saronno and topped with sliced almonds. She also bakes cherry, strawberry, cookies n’ crème, Nutter Butter Peanut Butter, chocolate chip and Pina Colada.  

"All the fruit ones contain fruit inside as well as on the top. A whole plain weighs up to six pounds and a whole flavor cheesecake can weigh up to seven pounds," Dosch said.  

“I can also make any flavor that a customer suggests -- I like to be creative.” 

Dosch said that the expressions on a customer’s face as they eat her cakes is always an enjoyment to watch. 

"I tell everyone to let it melt in their mouth," she siad. "Then the full flavor fills your palate and you’re in cheesecake heaven."  

"You can actually see the expressions on their faces and their body language change and that is when I get the full satisfaction from all my baking. “

Dosch said that people come from all over the tri-state area just for her cheesecakes and have even taken them as far as Florida, Chicago and Detroit. 

Dosch's family has owned and operated the West Gate Restaurant in Nyack, N.Y., for almost 50 years. With her father, Masis Parseghian, along with her siblings Gregory Parseghian, Jimmy Parseghian and Donna Maccaro, Dosch said, "It’s a family affair."

Dosch said that she's happy to give anyone who stops by the restaurant a taste test of her cheesecake flavors. Each of Dosch's individually handmade cheesecakes can be ordered as individual slices or as whole cakes. 

The West Gate Restaurant is located inside the Best Western Hotel on Route 59 in Nyack, NY.