Inventor of Basque Cheesecake to Retire Next Year

Santiago Rivera, the owner of La Viña restaurant in San Sebastián, Spain, is retiring next year after decades as the credited inventor of the Basque cheesecake, a dessert that has achieved global popularity. Rivera created the distinctive burnt cheesecake in the 1980s while experimenting with adaptations of the classic New York cheesecake recipe. While he developed the dessert decades ago, its international expansion occurred primarily in the 2010s as political and social conditions in the Basque region stabilized. The retirement will be marked by celebrations at his restaurant, though Rivera indicated he may not choose cheesecake for the occasion, expressing a preference for chocolate instead. His departure represents a significant moment for a culinary creation that has reshaped dessert offerings on menus globally.