Youngwood's Cheesecake Connection supplies dessert to Guy Fieri's casino eatery
If you’re going to supply cheesecake to one of Guy Fieri’s restaurants, it has to be something special.
After all, the chef and television host is known for the Cheesecake Challenge dessert at his Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen and Bar — a quarter of an entire marble cheesecake, piled high with pretzels and potato chips and topped with chocolate sauce.
Tom and Heather Grove, owners of The Cheesecake Connection/The Cookie Cottage in Youngwood, thought their product was up to the challenge, and they were right.
Beginning today, their marble cake will be the basis for the Cheesecake Challenge at Guy Fieri’s American Kitchen + Bar at Live! Pittsburgh Casino in Hempfield.
The Groves, who live in Greensburg, were aggressive in marketing their product, Tom Grove said.
“Whenever we’d go up to Guy’s restaurant, I’d ask for the manager, but I never got to talk to him,” he said. “Then, out of the blue, the purchasing manager of the casino called and wanted to try it.
“They want to buy local and support local business,” he added.
After supplying a sample, the Groves didn’t hear anything for about a month and a half.
“Then, we got a call that the head chef tasted it and liked it and wanted to work with us,” Tom Grove said. They’ll be delivering the 9-inch, baked cheesecakes to the restaurant twice weekly.
The couple got into the bakery business by the side door, so to speak. Both physical therapists, they started out by baking cheesecakes for family members and friends.
“It was a hobby that turned into something crazy like this,” Tom Grove said.
Starting in November 2019, they rented a kitchen, which they quickly outgrew. They moved into a smaller Youngwood space, before moving to their current location at 310 Depot St., Suite 1, in September.
The Cookie Connection part of the business is a full-service bakery offering cakes, cupcakes, bread, pies and other items.
Soon, the business will expand into the adjacent suite, with plans for outdoor, bistro-style seating when Youngwood’s current road and infrastructure improvements are complete.
Tom devotes himself to the business full time, and Heather pitches in while continuing to work as a physical therapist.
Their cheesecakes are based on a family recipe that Tom has tweaked over time. In addition to the 9-inch round cakes, they have 2-inch individual servings.
They offer at least 25 varieties.
“I’ve stopped counting,” Heather Grove said. “We’re adding new ones all the time.”
Not all flavors are available at one time in the store, and some are seasonal. All can be special ordered, and the couple also takes suggestions for new flavors.
Their most popular varieties are turtle, white chocolate raspberry, strawberry swirl and chocolate peanut butter, Heather Grove said — but there’s something for every taste.
Some other options include rocky road, pistachio, funfetti, banana and coconut cream, key lime, lemon curd and jalapeno jelly. The 9-inch cakes are $32.50, while the small cakes are $3.25 each or six for $17.50.
Lunch items to go, including pizza, salads, hot and cold sandwiches and a daily hot lunch special, also are available at the storefront.
The Groves also sell at festivals and food truck roundups. On Saturday, they’ll be at Antiques on the Avenue on South Pennsylvania Avenue in Greensburg.
Details: 724-400-5688, cheesecakeconnect.com or thecheesecakeconnection on Facebook
Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Shirley by email at smcmarlin@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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