D'Aiuto's Pastry, New York

Cheesecake versus brownies. It’s a storied rivalry that until 1924 had no clear winner. But rather than indulging this age-old debate, enterprising baker Mario D’Aiuto combined the two in his signature Baby Watson cheesecake, a brownie cheesecake that put the discussion to rest once and for all.

Thus began New York New York Cheesecake, which, 88 years later, continues to produce these sweet treats alongside other baked goodies including pies, cakes, and cookies. The bakers still pull plain cheesecake and cherry cheesecake out of the oven, but they also get a little more creative. Their cheesecake carrot cake blends the richness of cheesecake with the classic Bugs Bunny flavor of carrot. And their layer cakes also rise to the challenge, as evidenced by 10 inches of tiramisu fashioned with tuscan sponge, mascarpone cheese, and flavored liquor, dusted with cinnamon, and surrounded by a ring of ladyfingers.