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  • Chicago
  • North Side

We Chat With Marc Schulman, President of Eli's Cheesecake

We Chat With

Interviews with local chefs and restauranteurs.

Lindsey Becker
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Published: March 5, 2013 Last Updated: August 1, 2019

Gallery

Gallery
We Chat With Marc Schulman, President of Eli's Cheesecake

[Photographs: Lindsey Becker]

Though it's now so iconic it seems as old as the city itself, Eli's Cheesecake didn't make the jump to Chicago's collective radar until about 1980, when it represented Eli's The Place for Steak in the first Taste of Chicago. Perhaps even more surprising is that the godfather of this iconic Chicago dessert, Eli Schulman, didn't even start working on the recipe for the treat that would bring him the most fame until he was in his 60's. So despair not all you budding entrepreneurs, you still have time to make your mark.

20130302-242915-we-chat-with-marc-schulman-president-of-elis-cheesecake-ghirardelli-cheesecake.jpg

Eli actually started several different ventures in the restaurant industry decades before hitting upon the massive success of his cheesecake. From a coffee shop to a deli and finally to the steakhouse where he eventually developed the classic dense and creamy cheesecake recipe, he remained deeply rooted in the city of Chicago through each venture, a principle the company continues to make a main focus.

I was recently invited out to Eli's Cheesecake World in Chicago's Dunning neighborhood by Eli's son, Marc Schulman, who has been president of the company since 1984. After spending some time with him and executive pastry chef Laurel Boger in the factory/store, I walked away truly impressed by the company's history of innovation as well as their dedication to quality ingredients (no one is more surprised than me when I say that the feta in my Greek salad that I had at their cafe was some of the best I've ever had).

Because of the store's unique location, it's easy to overlook. But I discovered a bounty of food (not all of it cheesecake!) that is worth a special trip. Click through the slideshow for more about this time-honored Chicago company and of course, some mouth-watering pictures of cheesecake.

20130302-242915-we-chat-with-marc-schulman-president-of-elis-cheesecake-sign.jpg

Eli's Cheesecake World

6701 Forest Preserve Dr, Chicago, IL 60634 (map)
773-736-3417
elicheesecake.com

All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.

Lindsey Becker Contributor to Behind the Sweets and Sugar Rush
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I've always been a writer, but it took me way too long to realize that food writing is where it's at (poetry and short stories are certainly not where it's at, as it turns out). In September 2011, I started Macmaker, a blog where I waxed poetic about opening a French macaron stand in a farmers market, reviewed macarons around Chicago, tried making them myself exactly 11 times, and ultimately gave up in favor of the less-volatile and equally delicious whoopie pie. While researching macarons, I remained a faithful devotee of Serious Eats and became a contributor to the Chicago site soon after it launched, a fact I am still dumbfounded by.

Columns

  • Meet and Eat: Lindsey Becker
  • Behind the Sweets: Kymberli DeLost Constructs a Playground of Chocolate at Storefront Company
  • We Eat All of the Cream Puffs at Beard Papa's in Chicago
  • 10 Non Cupcake Desserts We Love at Magnolia Bakery
  • A Sandwich a Day Chicago
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  • dunning
  • eli's cheesecake
  • interview
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