HOUSTON – Chef Rey is an accomplished chef who turned to cooking later in life. After 15 years of working in the oil & gas industry, Chef Rey’s passion for cooking led him to change careers to culinary arts.
Now, almost 20 years later, he has cooked for a long list of athletes and celebrities, including Beyoncé, the Queen Bey. Today, he is serving as Alex Bregmen’s personal chef.
Plus, he is working on his latest cookbook, “The Power of Food,” which will celebrate his 20-year journey as a professional chef and feature twenty of his closest friends. He will release his new cookbook on June 4th, 2024, exactly 20 years after he received his culinary degree from the Art Institute of Houston.
But that’s not all. Chef Rey is also recognized for his signature line of cheesecakes. He plans on revolutionizing his gourmet cheesecakes, which will be sold across Texas.
And he’s giving us a preview of one of his signature cheesecakes to celebrate Celebrate National Cheesecake Day on July 30th.
🍰 Scroll down for the recipe or watch the video above.
CHEF REY’S SIGNATURE CHEESECAKE RECIPE
Crust:
- 1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 3 Tbsp. sugar
- 1/3 cup melted butter
Filling:
- 4-8oz pkg. Philadelphia Cream Cheese
- 1-1/2 cup sugar
- 2 Tbsp of Flour
- 2 teaspoons of Lemon juice
- 1 tsp. Vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. Rum extract
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 cup Sour Cream
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 325F
2. Combine graham crumbs, 3 Tbsp. sugar and butter; press onto the bottom of the 9″ cake pan and the walls of the pan
3. Beat cream cheese, sugar, rum, vanilla, lemon juice, and Fluor with Mixer until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended.
4. Add in Sour Cream
5. Pour the filling mixture into the crust
6. Bake for 55 min. or until the center is set
7. Refrigerate cheesecake for 4-6 hours
8. Slice into 4 quarters with 4 portions in each quarter
9. Plate and garnish with fresh berries
Follow Chef Rey on his latest projects → here.