Elis Cheesecake, a third-generation Chicago bakery and frozen dessert specialist, and fourth-generation J.P. Graziano Grocery, joined to debut their sweet collaboration, Cannoli Cheesecake, in honor of National Cheesecake Day in the USA on July 30. The pastry chefs at Eli’s put their spin on J.P. Graziano’s cannoli by adding creamy ricotta, candied orange peel and bittersweet chocolate chips to Eli’s famous Chicago-style cheesecake recipe. Baked on a cannoli crumb crust, the dessert is finished with mascarpone mousse and a wild Amarena cherry imported from Italy.
Eli’s and Graziano’s distributied free slices in front of Graziano’s at 901 West Randolph Street in the Windy City from 11AM-12PM. In addition, Eli’s passed out free cheesecake at Seneca Park, Lurie Children’s Hospital, Taste for the Homeless at Englewood and Riverdale locations, the Chicago History Museum, and the North Austin branch of the Chicago Public Library.
About Eli’s and J.P. Graziano Grocery
It all started in 1940, when Eli Schulman found a foreclosure sign on the door of his favorite coffee shop. On a whim (he never ran a restaurant before) and armed with his mother’s recipes, he bought the place and the rest is history. Forty years and a few restaurants later, Eli declared cheesecake to be the signature dessert at the legendary Eli’s The Place For Steak. It was there that he created Chicago-style Cheesecake, known for its caramelization, creamy texture and shortbread cookie crust. What began as a local favorite has become a Chicago food icon!
J.P. Graziano Grocery (JPG), founded by Sicilian immigrant to America Vincenzo Graziano, began as a street vending operation with a horse-drawn wagon. With the help of his sons, Alfredo and Paul, it evolved into Chicago’s leading wholesaler of imported and domestic grocery products. By the 1950s, J.P. Graziano delivery trucks were supplying numerous restaurants and independent grocers throughout Chicagoland. In 2007, fourth-generation owner Jim Graziano opened a sub shop inside the then 70-year-old store, which has since become one of the city’s top sandwich shops.
