Satisfy your sweet tooth at Cape institution

What exactly is a cheesecake? Is it mostly cheese or is it mostly cake?

It's delicious, regardless of its components, and no one knows how to make this mysterious dessert better than the chefs at My Daddy's Cheesecake Bakery and Cafe in Cape Girardeau.

For the past 20 years they have been putting a new twist on this classic dessert. Varieties of cake range from the favorite "Classic" cheesecake to Forbidden Fudge. There are Berry Swirl, Mississippi Mud, Turtle and Zangy Key Lime, just to name a few. They also offer sugar free cheesecakes in Classic, Forbidden Fudge and Amaretto.

"We want to thank the citizens of Cape Girardeau and the surrounding areas for making our business the local success story it is," said Kevin Stanfield, co-owner of My Daddy's Cheesecake.

The operation is not limited to cheesecakes. They offer gourmet cakes, pies, cookies, muffins, coffee and espresso. The cafe also serves breakfast and lunch, so that customers might enjoy a slice of cheesecake with a complete meal. The unique menu contains a wide variety of soups, salads, sandwiches and, of course, desserts.

Everything this business produces is made from scratch daily. In 1990 and 1991, My Daddy's Cheesecake won "Best New Dessert" in the area's gourmet baking competition.

In August 1997, the company appeared on a live broadcast of QVC's 50 in 50 Tour, when the station visited St. Louis. Millions of viewers had their sweet tooth tickled upon seeing the company offer its 9-inch "Death by Chocolate." The company has also been invited to the Best of Missouri Market at the St. Louis Botanical Gardens for nine years running.

The business was founded in 1987 by Dr. Tom Harte. His daughter inspired the start of the enterprise by convincing her "daddy" to start selling cheesecakes to a local restaurant where she worked. Whenever a patron finished their meal she would gingerly persuade them to enjoy a slice of "my daddy's cheesecake." Soon after, Harte started a small store for mail orders.

Wes Kinsey purchased the business in 1996 and expanded the menu to include several new flavors. The bakery changed locations in 2003, and in 2004 co-owners Bill and Kevin Stanfield bought into the company. In 2006, My Daddy's Cheesecake was moved to its current location at 265 S. Broadview St.

"We're excited about our new location," Stanfield said. "Our customers come first. With our new expansion, and our new menu, we are able to offer a much richer dining experience."

In addition to their new expansion, the company has decided to offer franchise opportunities. Inquiries to date include St. Louis, Springfield, Mo., Branson, Mo., Paducah, Ky., and Destin, Fla.

My Daddy's Cheesecake Bakery and Cafe is open Monday through Saturday 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call 335-6660 or toll-free (800) 735-6765. Orders can also be placed online by visiting the company's Web site at www.mydaddyscheesecake.com.