Bored? Make cheesecake!

What does one do when they’re at a loose end during lockdowns? Bake lockdown loaf, froth up some whipped coffee, or binge watch all of Downton Abbey? How about making cheesecake and getting really good at it. This is exactly how Bored Emma Cheesecakes was born. 

Emma Schimanski is the woman behind Bored Emma Cheesecakes. As managing director of the Banks Peninsula Festival, the stops and starts we have all experienced over recent years meant Emma was looking for a creative outlet to scratch that itch. Enter – Bored Emma. The name speaks for itself! 

Some things just go together, and this could not be more true for Emma’s two loves: cheesecakes and foraging. Through scouring Christchurch’s backyard on Banks Peninsula, Emma uses locally-sourced produce and seasonal ingredients to create her made-to-order creations. Thanks to her larder of unique ingredients, she is able to pull off some daring combinations like damson and gin, hawthorns and juniper, whiskey and grapefruit, sage and walnut, and even Central Otago thyme and rosemary. These are not your run-of-the-mill store-bought cheesecakes; they are a reflection of Emma’s passion and the landscape and amazing produce around her. They are also pretty bloomin’ delicious. 

In 2022, plain old cake is boring, and Emma aims to share an elevated dessert experience with her customers. Through her choice of modern palate collaborations that offer an all-around taste sensation, Emma is able to shake up the cheesecake and deliver something truly worth celebrating.