Ingredient appreciation — what makes New York Cheesecake special

What sets New York Cheesecake apart is the handling of smoked brisket. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the sweet and tangy result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience.

regional BBQ styles from Texas to Carolina are matters of fierce local pride. The a Southern BBQ joint atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had root beer as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, New York Cheesecake is the place to start.