All images: Basque by Leo
Basque by Leo was born out of COVID-19 lockdown boredom.
While some people made sourdough and others made banana bread, Leo Loureiro made Basque cheesecake.
It differs from normal cheesecake in that it is made to be burnt. Unlike New York style cheesecake, which is pale, dense and creamy, Basque cheesecake is super dark and caramelized.
Don’t let its scorched appearance fool you – it’s a light cheesecake with the perfect balance between airy soufflé, and creamy goodness.
Leo grew an appetite to perfecting this dreamy dessert during the chaos of lockdowns last year, and has since become the craze of the town delivering fresh Basque cheesecakes right to your door every week.
“The idea came when I thought about making something that could be delivered to your door without losing quality and also something that gives that comfort food feeling,” Leo said.
“After seeing Attica in Melbourne doing the Basque as part of their project Attica at Home, I knew I was going in the right direction.
After I perfected the recipe, I knew there was a gap in the market for this and I was extremely proud and happy with the result.”
Leo started off with baking Basque for his family and friends, but eventually started cooking up the delightful cheesecakes for outsiders too.
After Leigh Street Wine Room co-founder Sali Sasi tried one of the desserts and shared it on her Instagram, that’s when things really took off.
With a baby on the way and demand ramping up Leo moved into a new kitchen facility. Baking from home only allowed Leo to fit three cheesecakes in the oven at a time, while the new facility allowed him to ramp up production.
He is now the talk of the town when it comes to cheesecakes with orders for pickup or delivery every week. Leo has introduced chocolate, marble and now Biscoff variations to make the indulgent dessert even more unique.
Basque by Leo is one of the first in Adelaide to sell Basque right to your door, and it comes personalised with a handwritten tag by Leo himself.
The traditional Basque by Leo cheesecakes are 6” feeding up to 6 adults. It makes the perfect dinner party dessert, or breakfast treat.
There’s also the grande Basque on offer which is 10” in size feeding up to 12 adults. This one’s ideal for a (bigger) dinner party, or a breakfast to share with family and friends.
Along with the cheesecakes, Leo also cooks up loafs of sourdough and fruit loaf.
Leo is working with By Divide for his cool new branding with loads of colours and fun, as his business continues to grow.
You can order make your order at the Basque by Leo website here.
Follow basque by Leo on Instagram.
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