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Home ยป Uncategorized ยป Foodie Freebie Friday: Eli’s Cheesecake Sampler

Foodie Freebie Friday: Eli’s Cheesecake Sampler

July 6, 2009 · WCC Administr@tr · 100 Comments

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Ah… a Foodie Freebie Friday announcement right after a holiday weekend is most likely to come late… and so here I am! It’s been quite an eventful weekend and I hope you had a wonderful time enjoying festivities in the U.S. for Independence Day! We started our celebrations on Friday, July 3rd and continued onto the rest of the weekend… where today was a day for us to get some rest and catch up!

Now that we’re back, energized and ready for the week (albeit late!), this week I’m giving away one of my favorite desserts… cheesecake! But of course, it can’t be just any old cheesecake. My ultimate favorite is Eli’s Cheesecake, which started right here in Chicago! Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Eli’s Cheesecake President, Marc Schulman and his daughter Elana. We had a fabulous time at the Taste of Chicago and it was a great opportunity to hear about their company and family history…


Marc Schulman has not forgotten his formative years growing up in the restaurant owned by his parents, Eli and Esther Schulman, longtime operators of Eli’s The Place for Steak in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood. Working in that restaurant, which closed three years ago after a nearly 40-year run, shaped Schulman’s values about running a business in the best interests of both customers and employees.

Eli’s, which opened in 1966, was well-known in its day as a gathering place for upwardly mobile Chicagoans and visiting celebrities. Beginning as a steakhouse with some Jewish deli favorites, Eli’s menu evolved to include lighter items but always sold a lot of its special desserts.

The late Eli Schulman developed his signature cheesecake as the house dessert for the restaurant. Though he wanted to have a product that was so good that other restaurateurs would buy it to serve to their customers, he never dreamed that the cheesecake business would become as big as it has. Today, 15,000 Eli’s cheesecakes are made daily in more than 100 variations and sold all over the United States and in some foreign countries.

Eli Schulman’s son, Marc, runs the cheesecake manufacturing business but keeps his hand in restaurants by overseeing the Cheesecake Cafe, open for breakfast, lunch and catering functions at the facility. — BNet

elislogo-8428310
To celebrate this favorite dessert, a lucky reader will be receiving their choice of a cheesecake sampler to enjoy, compliments of Marc Schulman himself. Thank you Marc for your generosity! I encourage you to definitely check out the Eli’s Cheesecake website to learn how much the company has not only touched many with their delicious cheesecakes, but also how they have helped the community with the various outreach programs they have in place. If you happen to visit Chicago, do make that special trip out to Eli’s Headquarters where you’ll be able to take a tour of their site and enjoy a meal at their cafe for lunch and dinner. One of my favorite events at Eli’s is their annual Cheesecake Festival that happens in the fall. Stay tuned as I will venture out later this year for another culinary adventure with Eli’s! A lucky reader will get their choice of one of the following cheesecake samplers:

Original Favorites Cheesecake Sampler
Four slices each of our all-time favorite cheesecakes:
Original Plain, Chocolate Chip, Strawberry,

and Candy Bar made with Heathยฎ Toffee Bars.

12-2471972

Dream Team Cheesecake Sampler
Eli’s Dream Team Cheesecakes are our “over-the-top”
four pound
cheesecakes that are hand-decorated
and crowned with loads of
luscious toppings.
You’ll get four to five cheesecake slices each of our

Perfectly Praline, Triple Chocolate Truffle & Strawberry.

20-3032824

Some guidelines:
– Giveaway is only for those who live in the United States – my apologies to my international readers!
– You must have a valid email address (within your comment or blog link) so that you can be contacted if you win.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment answering:

– What’s your favorite cheesecake flavor?


Deadline:
Thursday, July 9th, 2009 at 12 midnight CST.

ONE WINNER will be randomly chosen by Random.Org’s Interger Generator based on the number of your comment and will be announced on Friday, July 10th, 2009. Good luck!

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Comments

  1. Cathy says

    July 6, 2009 at 11:54 pm

    I love classic strawberry cheesecake.

    Reply
  2. DanaC says

    July 6, 2009 at 11:54 pm

    i am all about the fruity kinds, strawberry, white chocolate raspberry swirl the list goes on

    Reply
  3. Carrie Crocker says

    July 6, 2009 at 11:54 pm

    yum yum! How delicious! I love cheesecake with any fruit on it! Great giveaway!

    Reply
  4. Shelli W says

    July 6, 2009 at 11:54 pm

    Plain cheesecake with strawberry glaze topping, yum!

    Reply
  5. Courtney says

    July 6, 2009 at 11:54 pm

    That's so cool that you got to meet the president of Eli's! My favorite flavor of cheesecake would be a tie between white chocolate raspberry or some type of coffee/chocolate blend. Yum! I love cheesecake!

    Reply
  6. Ny-Ying says

    July 7, 2009 at 12:18 am

    mmm my favorite is white chocolate raspberry.

    Reply
  7. Paula A says

    July 7, 2009 at 12:18 am

    I love Bailey's Amaretto Cheesecake…yummy…

    Reply
  8. Meg says

    July 7, 2009 at 12:18 am

    Several months ago I would have said raspberry but when Thanksgiving rolled around and the grocery store was overflowing with cans of pumpkin I tried making pumpkin cheesecake– fantastic!

    Reply
  9. danielle says

    July 7, 2009 at 12:18 am

    caramel apple cheesecake. YUM

    Reply
  10. RandRAdventures says

    July 7, 2009 at 12:18 am

    Mmm – I love chocolate cheesecake with a drizzle of strawberry sauce. Yum!

    Reply
  11. Julie says

    July 7, 2009 at 12:18 am

    Strawberry!

    Reply
  12. Anonymous says

    July 7, 2009 at 12:29 am

    The more chocolate the better! I love chocolate cheese cake ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  13. Tanya says

    July 7, 2009 at 12:29 am

    My favorite flavor is just plain new york cheesecake topped with fresh strawberries and whip cream. I like things simple ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  14. ashley says

    July 7, 2009 at 12:49 am

    cheesecake is not in the diet right now but i think i could make an exception if i won ๐Ÿ˜‰ eli's is delish!

    Reply
  15. Jessica says

    July 7, 2009 at 12:49 am

    Cheesecake is my FAVORITE! I'm not sure I could pick just ONE favorite… maybe pumpkin cheesecake.

    Reply
  16. Suburban prep says

    July 7, 2009 at 12:49 am

    I love the Praline cheesecake.
    Yum.
    msgb245 at gmail dot com

    Reply
  17. Kira says

    July 7, 2009 at 12:49 am

    Anything with toffee in it is fine by me!

    Reply
  18. Unknown says

    July 7, 2009 at 1:01 am

    I love cheesecake – any kind really, but if I have to choose one it would be strawberry!

    Reply
  19. Lauren says

    July 7, 2009 at 1:01 am

    Anything w/ chocolate!

    Reply
  20. Izzo says

    July 7, 2009 at 1:01 am

    I love cheesecake. And I'm a Brooklyn girl,so to me cheesecake equals Junior's. My favorite flavor is hands down the Apple Crumb. It is like the love child between a rich NY style cheesecake and a classic apple pie. Send place is carrot cake cheese cake. Smiles all around.

    Reply
  21. Amy says

    July 7, 2009 at 1:12 am

    That is so great of the owner! I LOVE strawberry cheesecake. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  22. Kate says

    July 7, 2009 at 1:20 am

    I love cheesecake! I've never had a cheesecake that I didn't like. My friend Nicole makes THE BEST cheesecake. She tops it with homemade strawberry jam. YUM!

    katielisa777@gmail.com

    Reply
  23. Stephanie says

    July 7, 2009 at 1:20 am

    My favorite is strawberry cheesecake. I don't think I have ever had a chocolate cheesecake though. Hmmm….

    Reply
  24. Julia says

    July 7, 2009 at 1:20 am

    I love all things chocolate, including chocolate cheesecake, but cheesecake is one of the few desserts that I will gladly eat a non-chocolate variety — plain cheesecake is splendid.

    Reply
  25. Melly says

    July 7, 2009 at 1:20 am

    I like plain, with a strong cream cheese flavor, very dense and very cold.
    mellias.willis@sbcglobal.net

    Reply
  26. Leslie M. says

    July 7, 2009 at 1:44 am

    Any Cheesecake from Eli's is FABU!!!!! But my favorite would be Triple Chocolate Truffle!!!!!! OMGOSH!!! so Delish!!!
    Many thanks for the Chance to win!!!

    Leslie
    LeslieVeg@msn.com
    http://leslielovesveggies.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  27. Anonymous says

    July 7, 2009 at 1:44 am

    I love plain cheesecake dressed up with some peanut butter drizzle adn chocolate pieces, maybe nuts if i have them

    Reply
  28. Katie says

    July 7, 2009 at 1:44 am

    I love cheesecake with fruit topping. Mmmmm, I want some so bad right now…

    Reply
  29. Jen says

    July 7, 2009 at 1:44 am

    I do love me some cheesecake. Even though I'm lactose intolerant, I indulge every once and a while. I love white chocolate with raspberry sauce and a chocolate crust. Even better if it's dairy free!

    Reply
  30. Must Love Chutney says

    July 7, 2009 at 1:44 am

    Key lime pie is my favorite flavor… though I haven't met a cheesecake I didn't like! ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  31. Shannon says

    July 7, 2009 at 1:44 am

    Eli's Chocolate Chip. Hands down! I can only get it in Houston if I order it!
    srgraff@sbcglobal.net

    Reply
  32. Nikki says

    July 7, 2009 at 1:44 am

    Plain cheesecake with fresh strawberries. Or chocolate. Its really hard to pick one.

    Reply
  33. Heidi Carpenter says

    July 7, 2009 at 1:44 am

    My favorite flavor of cheesecake is the simple plain topped with fresh strawberries!

    Reply
  34. Jules Someone says

    July 7, 2009 at 1:50 am

    I'm a purist. I like plain cheesecake with perhaps a little fruit coulis.

    Reply
  35. Unknown says

    July 7, 2009 at 1:50 am

    Strawberry would have to be my favorite!!

    Reply
  36. Unknown says

    July 7, 2009 at 1:50 am

    How can you truly pick a favorite flavor of cheesecake? It's cheesecake no matter what! ๐Ÿ™‚ I'm sort of a traditionalist though so I'd probably say plain or anything with chocolate! Yum!

    Reply
  37. Ashley says

    July 7, 2009 at 2:04 am

    ANY kind of cheesecake! It's my all time favorite dessert.

    Reply
  38. Kristy says

    July 7, 2009 at 2:27 am

    yum yum! i want some cheesecake!

    Reply
  39. Jessica says

    July 7, 2009 at 2:27 am

    chocolate cheesecake is my favorite, yum!

    Reply
  40. Stef says

    July 7, 2009 at 2:27 am

    Great giveaway!! Even though I love chocolate type of cheesecakes, I must say that I love a plain vanilla cheesecake with strawberry topping. Yum!

    Reply
  41. Miss M.J. Ma'am says

    July 7, 2009 at 2:38 am

    I love it all……… especially pumpkin.

    Reply
  42. Lindsey says

    July 7, 2009 at 2:44 am

    Pumpkin!!!

    Reply
  43. Unknown says

    July 7, 2009 at 2:44 am

    How to choose only one flavor?

    I love cherries on my cheesecake, but of course chocolate is never a bad thing!

    Reply
  44. Unknown says

    July 7, 2009 at 2:44 am

    It's a toss up between turtle and pumpkin!

    Reply
  45. Sarah says

    July 7, 2009 at 3:08 am

    I like a turtle or praline cheescake best. But you can't go wrong with any kind of cheesecake. Yum!

    Reply
  46. Anne B. says

    July 7, 2009 at 3:08 am

    All flavors of Ely's rock!….But the Heath Bar Cheesecake would be my favorite.

    Reply
  47. JoeyfromSC says

    July 7, 2009 at 3:18 am

    WOW that looks so so delicious!!! I โ™ฅ cheesecake in all flavors, but my fave is pumpkin!!!(yaheee Lindsey lol)

    That heath bar one sounds SO frickin' good though lol

    Thanks for the chance! I've always wanted to try their brand!

    Reply
  48. Megan says

    July 7, 2009 at 3:42 am

    Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh!

    Cheesecake is awesome in any flavor, but chocolate is one of my favorites!

    Reply
  49. Mrs. McGillis says

    July 7, 2009 at 3:42 am

    My favorite kind of cheesecake is white chocolate raspberry. I'm a sucker for the raspberry swirl!

    Reply
  50. Kerstin says

    July 7, 2009 at 3:42 am

    Strawberry ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  51. kimbly says

    July 7, 2009 at 3:42 am

    Turtle cheesecake is just amazing. Obscenely rich and incredibly delicious – it would have to be my favorite.

    kimbly (at) gmail (dot) com

    Reply
  52. Sheri says

    July 7, 2009 at 4:56 am

    They are all yummy, But I would have to say plain.

    Reply
  53. Carrie's Creations says

    July 7, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    I had an awesome cookies & cream cheesecake once… yummm!

    Reply
  54. Larry + Brenda says

    July 7, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    Yum!! My favorite has to be turtle!!

    Reply
  55. Unknown says

    July 7, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    Cheesecake is one of my favorite desserts. They look delicious.

    Reply
  56. Anonymous says

    July 7, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    I love plain cheesecake the best.
    kellirc117@yahoo.com

    Reply
  57. Aliy says

    July 7, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    I love my cheesecake with oreo crumbles!

    Reply
  58. Dianne says

    July 7, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    I love a good pumpkin cheesecake! Anything chocolate is a close second.

    vicanddi@yahoo.com

    Reply
  59. Deborah says

    July 7, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    My favorite cheesecake flavor is white chocolate raspberry, but I've never met a cheesecake I didn't like! ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  60. Unknown says

    July 7, 2009 at 12:49 pm

    I love cheesecake so much that I can't pick just one – it'd have to be a tie between pumpkin cheesecake & white chocolate raspberry cheesecake.

    Thanks for the chance to win such an awesome giveaway!

    Reply
  61. Anonymous says

    July 7, 2009 at 1:03 pm

    mmmm plain cheesecake or pumpkin cheesecake are my faves..mmmm

    Reply
  62. Bright Endeavors says

    July 7, 2009 at 1:12 pm

    Love the TURTLE!

    Reply
  63. Cheryl E. Smith says

    July 7, 2009 at 2:11 pm

    I really love praline cheesecake. My 48th wedding anniversary is Thursday, this would be a delightful anniversary surprise.

    Reply
  64. Erin says

    July 7, 2009 at 2:11 pm

    pumpkin or chocolate!

    Reply
  65. Mrs. in May says

    July 7, 2009 at 2:11 pm

    My favorite is a nice simple piece with fruit like strawberry or raspberry but after seeing the turtle version in your earlier post, I don't think I could pass something like that up!

    Reply
  66. Brooke says

    July 7, 2009 at 2:11 pm

    Chocolate or a chocolate & coffee mixture. All this cheesecake talk is making me hungry!

    Reply
  67. Toby says

    July 7, 2009 at 2:11 pm

    My favorite cheesecake is chocolate oreo… or anything chocolate. MMMMMM

    Reply
  68. ShoeFanatic614 says

    July 7, 2009 at 3:03 pm

    This is the best giveaway yet!

    My favorite is plain with fresh strawberry's on top. Yum!

    Reply
  69. Jade says

    July 7, 2009 at 3:03 pm

    My favorite flavor is a turtle cheesecake. You can't go wrong with carmel and chocolate!!

    Reply
  70. Linds says

    July 7, 2009 at 3:03 pm

    Such a great giveaway! My husband is from Chicago and just loves Eli's cheesecakes. He likes the more decadent flavors but me, I'm a simple girl and plain with fresh strawberries on top suits me just fine ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  71. Margaret says

    July 7, 2009 at 3:03 pm

    I LOVE pumpkin cheesecake. It is DIVINE. That being said, the ones listed at Eli's Cheesecake are enough to make me salivate right now.

    Thanks for hosting this giveaway!
    shen[dot]margaret[at]gmail[dot]com

    Reply
  72. Mrs Jolie says

    July 7, 2009 at 3:32 pm

    Caramel apple or plain are my favorites…yum!

    Reply
  73. Quiara says

    July 7, 2009 at 3:32 pm

    I've never tried Eli's cheesecakes, but I've followed them on Twitter for a while. I've really enjoyed learning about the business — and about the random stuff that happens on any given day.

    Reply
  74. gaga says

    July 7, 2009 at 4:44 pm

    Honestly, I love ALL flavors of cheesecake and can never decide. I suppose you can never go wrong with good old plain cheesecake though!

    Reply
  75. Trisha says

    July 7, 2009 at 4:44 pm

    Great giveaway! My favorite kind of cheesecake is chocolate chip cheesecake. I have tried many many kinds and I always go back to chocolate chip. ๐Ÿ™‚ paislie98 at hotmail dot com

    Reply
  76. Kayla says

    July 7, 2009 at 5:05 pm

    My favorite is chocolate!

    Reply
  77. Kelly says

    July 7, 2009 at 6:40 pm

    mmmmm….I love cheesecake. Some of my favorite flavors are Oreo, White Chocolate/Raspberry, and Turtle, but really I could go for almost any flavor!

    Reply
  78. John says

    July 7, 2009 at 10:06 pm

    It might be sacrilegious, but I once had a Heath Bar cheesecake that was scrumptious!

    Reply
  79. Stephanie says

    July 7, 2009 at 10:06 pm

    I love cheesecake!!!
    About 7 years ago, DH (then BF) brought me back a peppermint cheesecake from Eli's. I was supposed to give it to my dad, but I ate the entire thing myself!

    Reply
  80. h2babe says

    July 8, 2009 at 12:34 am

    My true fave is Dulce de Leche (sp). But I also enjoy classic cheese cake with strawberry topping. Yum!!

    Reply
  81. Espresso Mom says

    July 8, 2009 at 3:05 am

    Our wedding cake was made by a good friend of ours, out of plain cheesecake and then as it was sliced and served, a raspberry drizzle was added to the plate. Fan-tastic!

    Reply
  82. sweet delight says

    July 8, 2009 at 3:05 am

    I love a cafe au lait cheesecake on a chocolate crust or a peach cobbler cheesecake! Thanks for the contest!!

    Reply
  83. Anonymous says

    July 8, 2009 at 3:05 am

    My favorite would be Turtle cheesecake. Yummy!!!

    lovejuliet8579 at yahoo dot com

    Reply
  84. Jared says

    July 8, 2009 at 3:05 am

    Being lactose intolerant, I'll load up on lactaid for any type of cheesecake, but White Chocolate Raspberry holds a special place in my heart that if it's around, and I don't have any lactaid, I'll still eat it because I don't mind getting sick for it!

    Reply
  85. Amy L says

    July 8, 2009 at 1:16 pm

    OMG what an amazing prize! I'm a cheesecake purist, so my favorite is plain cheesecake. I like to try different flavors now and then, but nothing is better than a NY style cheesecake, just as it is.

    Reply
  86. jeanius says

    July 8, 2009 at 1:16 pm

    Cheesecake! YUM.
    I'd say my favorite cheesecake is Key Lime. Just the right amount of tart Key Lime jelly layered over creamy, sweet cheesecake.

    Reply
  87. Shauna says

    July 8, 2009 at 3:42 pm

    I love just about ANY cheesecake. If I had to pick though, then two of my favorites are Oreo and chocolate chip. YUM!!

    Reply
  88. Melissa says

    July 8, 2009 at 3:42 pm

    I'm a fan of raspberry chocolate cheesecake… or at least raspberries and chocolate somehow involved with cheesecake. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  89. Vanessa says

    July 8, 2009 at 3:42 pm

    I love the Snickers cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory- that has to be my all-time favorite!

    Reply
  90. Eva says

    July 8, 2009 at 5:12 pm

    I love white chocolate raspberry! Eli's cheesecakes are soooo yummy!

    evitawylie at hotmail dot com

    Reply
  91. Kim says

    July 8, 2009 at 9:54 pm

    I love the fresh, tart flavor of lemon cheesecake. Chocolate is always good, too!

    Reply
  92. Michelle says

    July 9, 2009 at 1:02 pm

    Never met a flavor I didn't like, but would have to choose plain cheesecake with strawberry topping as my favorite. Yum!

    Reply
  93. Lena says

    July 9, 2009 at 1:02 pm

    My favorite cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory is the white chocolate coconut. I also like chocolate chip.

    Reply
  94. citygirlcooks says

    July 9, 2009 at 4:38 pm

    I don't even know how to choose! I had a pumpkin cheesecake once that was amazing, so I'll go with that. Great giveaway!

    Reply
  95. The Muries says

    July 9, 2009 at 4:38 pm

    chocolate chocolate chip has to probably be one of my absolute favorites but I love all cheesecake!
    dwrmmurie@yahoo.com

    Reply
  96. The MAiden Metallurgist says

    July 9, 2009 at 6:06 pm

    Plain!

    I worked as a server at the cheesecake factory for years in college and I've tried dozens of flavors and my favorite is still PLAIN!

    Reply
  97. Erica says

    July 10, 2009 at 3:01 am

    My favorite is pumpkin cheesecake!! ๐Ÿ™‚ Yummy

    ericaarobinson at gmail dot com

    Reply
  98. Nina says

    July 10, 2009 at 7:35 am

    My favorite is turtle cheesecake. Yum!

    Reply
  99. Melissa says

    July 10, 2009 at 1:06 pm

    Honestly, I am unsure if I can choose ONE favorite cheesecake flavor ๐Ÿ™‚

    Cheesecake is my all time favorite dessert and have never turned away any flavor!

    YUM!

    Reply
  100. Kevin Deck says

    January 15, 2010 at 7:06 pm

    My favorite cheesecake? My grandma's of course. But Eli's strawberry runs a very close 2nd!

    Reply

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