Food can make an everlasting imprint in our memories. Aromas, sounds from a kitchen or even the sweet bite of a cheesecake can transport you back into time. Hy’s Cheesecake had that effect on many who grew up on this confection in Maplewood, New Jersey. The retired and relocated baker, Hy Schaefer, built quite a reputation during the 20 years he churned out his cheesecake. There is even a Facebook page dedicated to Hy’s Cheesecake.
“My parents used to send me out to go get one every year,” Scott Matrinec recounted of his childhood memory of Hy’s Cheesecake. He still can’t believe how the popularity of this simple cake from Hy’s stood the test of time, and now 40 years later, people who grew up in Maplewood still talk about it fondly. He said that he would try cheesecake everywhere he went even abroad during his time in the military, but none matched up to Hy’s Cheesecake.
That is, until now. Matrinec seems to have replicated this famous cake.
Matrinec, the HVAC tech turned pastry chef, stumbled into baking by accident. After a serious knee injury several years ago, he endured eight months of physical therapy. Housebound, he decided to try a few recipes from an inherited trove of his great aunt’s recipes. He wanted to duplicate the strawberry sponge cake that his great aunt made for his birthday every year. He ventured into uncharted territory all the while having to guess at basic baking techniques and decoding his great aunt’s unconventional units of measure. His efforts paid off and he successfully duplicated the cake he remembers from his youth. This achievement encouraged him to tackle more recipes.
After winning a couple of local baking contests and with Hy’s Cheesecake still on his mind, he made a few unsuccessful attempts to duplicate the cake. He decided to take his hobby a little more seriously and enrolled at The Institute of Culinary Education.
Armed with his newfound pastry skills and his memory of Hy’s Cheesecake, he forged ahead to figure out the recipe for the famous Hy’s Cheesecake. (Even to this day, Schaefer has not shared his secret recipe with anyone.) With his wife as the willing and patient taste tester, as well as neighbors and friends, he baked almost every weekend for about a year and a half tweaking ingredients, techniques, and baking methods. Matrinec baked at least 70-80 cakes before reaching his triumphant moment. Once his wife gave the thumbs-up, he gathered a group of friends to sample 4 or 5 different cakes. They unanimously chose Matrinec’s cake as “the one”.
Matrinec has created a following of his own. With each year, his cheesecakes and other confections have been growing in popularity.
I can attest that when I tried a sample of the cheesecake the other weekend, that one perfect morsel simply melted in my mouth. The last bite was as airy and moist as the last. The cake embodied the perfect balance of tang and sweetness and the crumbly texture of the graham cracker crust was the perfect complement. I am definitely putting my order in for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Sofia’s in Springfield, New Jersey was the only place where you could find Matrinec’s creations, but after seven years of bouncing around in kitchens, he has finally found a home at Town Hall Deli in South Orange, New Jersey. His “Hy’s style” cheesecake, as well as his deep dish apple pie, pecan pie, and pumpkin pie will be available for the holidays. Order now because he will need at least a week in advance to have your order ready by the holidays. If you need your cheesecake fix now, stop by the Town Hall Deli for a slice. I think Scott Matrinec is definitely on his way to becoming the next cheesecake legend in the Maplewood/South Orange area.
60 Valley Street
South Orange, NJ 07079
973-762-4900
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