Basque “Burnt” Cheesecake

The Basque cheesecake was first brought to popularity by La Viña restaurant in San Sebastián in the nineties, and the internet made it viral. With its sweet, creamy interior and crisp, slightly bitter outer shell, it was unique in a world of cheesecakes with separate crusts. This custard makes its own crust by ever-so-slightly burning, keeping the delicate center encased. If you go back far enough, the Romans had a similar idea, but no social media.