Celebrate National Cheesecake Day at new Who Cut the Cheesecake location in Millbury

It’s National Cheesecake Day on July 30, and David Silva is celebrating by opening a second location of Who Cut the Cheesecake . Silva’s cheesecakes, made by hand, made with love, will be sold in a newly renovated space at 26 Main St., Millbury. Doors officially open at 11 a.m.

National Cheesecake Day is the perfect occasion to have a slice of one of America’s favorite desserts, according to Silva, who first started promoting his cheesecake brand online in 2021, working out of the kitchen at St. Bernard’s Church of Our Lady of Providence Parish on Lincoln Street in Worcester.

Silva was a paramedic when he first went into the business of baking cheesecakes and with the help of three friends baked at least 50 cakes weekly to fill preorders. Social media and word of mouth were successful marketing tools, grabbing people’s attention, said Silva. Demand for his cheesecakes skyrocketed. The specialty grocery store, Ten West Market in Paxton was among the very first local businesses to sell Who Cut the Cheesecake and owner Darlene Walsh continues to stock the product, he said.

After a short hiatus from baking, Silva in 2022 opened a retail shop at 1195 Putnam Pike, Chepachet, Rhode Island, a village in Glocester, where he and his family reside. The majority of business is takeout, with several inside tables. Coffee and beverages are available. Silva’s “buddy,” Jay Tetreault manages the shop.

Silva said Millbury will have a similar menu to Rhode Island, with the main focus on mini cheesecakes in a variety of flavors. Whole cheesecakes, 6 and 9-inch, can be preordered, with a two to three- day advance notice, he said. Specialty coffees, smoothies and other beverages will be updated on the shop’s large chalkboard menu. Silva’s coffee wholesaler is Good as Gold Coffee , a longtime family-owned and operated business in Worcester’s Canal District.

Silva said he does sell mini cheesecake singles but most people end up picking up a six-pack. “We do a deal where the sixth mini is free,” he said. “It’s an awesome perk that people really like and it’s what most of our customers get when they come into the shop.”  Customers also like the idea of trying new flavors, according to Silva.  Don’t underestimate the size of the minis because they’re packed with flavor, he said.

Lemon Blueberry tops the flavor list for both mini and whole cheesecakes, said Silva, who first introduced the flavor in Worcester. “No matter what season, the flavor beats out everything,” he said. Other popular mini flavors include Strawberry Shortcake, Peanut Butter Delight, Turtle and Death by Chocolate.

The business makes about 13 different cheesecake flavors in advance of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. This fall, Silva will introduce at dreamy new flavor called Pumpkin Caramel Brulée. He also wants to add six or more new varieties after opening in Millbury. Note: Gluten-free cheesecake is in limited supply at his shops, but they can be pre-ordered.

Who Cut the Cheesecake is on the menu at local restaurants including Amici Trattoria and Willy’s Steakhouse in Shrewsbury and Meraki Coffee Dessert Bar in Worcester. The cheesecake brand also is sold at Giacomo’s Gourmet Foods in Hubbardston, Route 148 Package and Variety in Oakham and many other businesses in Framingham, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Silva said most restaurants who buy from him change cheesecake flavors week to week. “Except Meraki in Worcester,” said Silva. “The business usually gets Strawberry Crunch, which is a double layered cheesecake “hybrid,” he said, explaining that the bottom layer is a full shortcake cheesecake and the top layer, a full shortcake. It’s filled and topped with multiple layers of whipped cream, strawberry slices, Silva’s strawberry sauce recipe and finished with his strawberry crumble recipe. Now, that’s a dessert!

Since his business got underway, not many cheesecake flavors have failed the taste-test, said Silva, who could only recall bubblegum not making the grade. ‘It was a no-go,” he said.

Hours at Who Cut the Cheesecake in Millbury will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday. Seating is 10 to 12. Municipal parking lot across the street from the business. On street parking in front of the building. Visit whocutthecheesecakellc.com ; Telephone: (508) 581-4080. Connect on Facebook and Instagram.

Note: At the shop, chess players are welcome to use a custom-made chessboard by Heirloom Emporium in Chepachet, a business located next to Silva’s Rhode Island shop. Also, Silva’s 12-year-old son, Mason, described as a young entrepreneur by his father, will take charge of the care and filling of a gumball machine located near the shop’s entrance. Silva and his wife, Hollie, a teacher in the Providence School System, also have a teenage daughter, Madison, who helped her parents ready the Millbury space. Friends Shannon Horan and Shawna Grout, who worked in Silva’s Worcester business, also lent a hand in the Millbury renovation.

Silva had looked at rental properties in Worcester before he heard about the Millbury space. “For me, Worcester rentals were not affordable,” said Silva.

Silva expects the Millbury opening to be busy, especially since National Cheesecake Day celebrations usually are “insane.”

He has retired as a paramedic and sometimes still can’t believe how his business took off so quickly. “People tell me that my cheesecakes are the best they have ever had,” said Silva. He started off making cheesecakes for family and friends for holidays and considered it “no big deal.”

A cheesecake may be one of the most elegant and beautiful desserts to serve, but unfortunately, it is also temperamental and will develop ugly cracks on the surface if it’s not prepared and handled properly. It happens to the even the most experienced baker, said Silva.

It's interesting to note that Silva is up front when asked about eating dessert. “I much would rather have a steak,” he said.

Happy National Cheesecake Day!

Summer Restaurant Week

The summer edition of Worcester Restaurant Week is about to kick-off, with more than 35 eateries offering three-course meals, $29.24, from July 29 through Aug. 10.

Visit worcesterrestaurantsweek.com for updates and restaurants that will offer three-courses for a slightly higher price.

Worcester Restaurant Week is produced by Pulse Magazine . Event coordinator Nick Sposato said WRW is a great dining deal for people in Central Massachusetts. “As we enter the ‘dog days of summer,’ restaurants tend to slow down,” he said. This event gives them a boost.”

New participants include the White Eagle Polish Club , 116-120 Green St., Worcester, which will showcase a traditional Polish menu and Castle Cantina Tapas Bar & Restaurant , 1230 Main St., Leicester, where Spanish cuisine is featured.

Returning participants to WRW Summer Edition: Worcester: 110 Grill Worcester , Mercantile Center, 123 Front St.; Armsby Abbey , 144 Main St.; Bocado Tapas Wine Bar , 82 Winter St.; Chashu Ramen + Izakaya , 32 Franklin St.; El Basha locations at 256 Park Ave. and 424 Belmont St.; Flying Rhino Café and Watering Hole , 278 Shrewsbury St.; The Fix Burger Bar , 108 Grove St.; Joey’s Bar & Grill , 344 Chandler St.; La Cucina Italiana , 1393 Grafton St.; La Scala Ristorante , 183 Shrewsbury St.; Leo’s Ristorante , 11 Leo Turo Way; Mare E Monti , 19 Wall St.; Mezcal Tequila Cantina , 11 E. Central St.; Nuovo Restaurant , 92 Shrewsbury St.; O’Connor’s Restaurant & Bar , 1160 W. Boylston St.; Off the Rails , 90 Commercial St.; One Eleven Chop House , 111 Shrewsbury St.; Pepe’s Italian Restaurant , 179 Shrewsbury St,; Peppercorn’s Grille & Tavern , 455 Park Ave.; Piccolo’s Restaurant , 157 Shrewsbury St.; Red Crab Juicy Seafood Restaurant , 1269 Main St.; Russo Italian Restaurant , 65 Water St.; the Sole Proprietor , 118 Highland St.; VIA Italian Restaurant , 89 Shrewsbury St.

Outside of Worcester: Cyprian’s Restaurant at Cyprian Keyes Golf Club , 284 E. Temple St., Boylston; Harvest Grille , 1 Princeton St., Holden; A.J. Tomaiolo’s Restaurant , 411 W. Main St., Northborough; Calabria Ristorante , 7 S. Main St., Millbury; Oxfords Casual Dining , 2 Millbury Blvd., Oxford; Amici Trattoria Shrewsbury , 582 Main St., Shrewsbury; NOLA Cajun Kitchen , locations at 340 W. Boylston St., West Boylston and 378 Maple St., Shrewsbury; Black and White Grille , 206 N. Spencer Road, Spencer; Table Twelve Kitchen & Bar , 175 W. Boylston St., West Boylston.

Sponsors are Berkshire Bank , Pepsi , Discover Central Massachusetts , Greater Good Brewery , Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty , Cantiani Insurance , Percy’s and Flexibility & Benefits for Massachusetts Drivers.

If you have a tidbit for the column, call (508) 868-5282. Send email to bhoulefood@gmail.com .

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Celebrate National Cheesecake Day at new Who Cut the Cheesecake location in Millbury