From age-old recipes to newly dreamt up decadence, Cheesecakes by Big Mike’s Fat Kitchen have hit the ground running and are whipping up a storm in Carlton. We talk to the namesake and owner Mike Jones to get the lowdown…
So Big Mike, what’s the big idea? Why cheesecake?
It all started after I was furloughed back in March. I find it difficult to sit still so decided to start a little food blog on Instagram. Back when I was a teenager, I had done a couple of years in pub kitchens, so had a bit of knowhow on how to make food look good. It was all going well and then I decided to make my girlfriend a cheesecake for her birthday in May. I posted photos of it on my blog and it all went a bit crazy. I had never made a cheesecake before and suddenly people online were asking if I’d make them one.
Wait, what?! You’d never made a cheesecake before May last year?
No, never made a cake at all in fact. Might have made some brownies somewhere down the line. But that’s about it.
But obviously, other than the couple of years in pub kitchens, you have catering experience? Right?
Other than eating and making my own food, no.
So, let me get this straight: you’d never made a cheesecake before May and don’t have huge amounts of catering experience, so you decided it would be a good idea to open up a cheesecake shop at a time of unprecedented financial insecurity? Big Mike must have some seriously big balls...
Well, yeah. After posting the unicorn cheesecake which I made for Jess, things just started to gather traction. I had always known that I wanted to have my own business and given how it was going we decided to get the council round to approve our kitchen at home, put some shoutouts on social media and started selling them for delivery. We ended up doing around 600-700.
My old job called me up and said it was time to get back, but I knew I didn’t want to. I had a big decision to make. Jess, who has been an absolute diamond, said that if I was going to do it, I needed to do it properly and get a shop.
How does a Clifton lad, living in Bingham, end up on Carlton Hill?
An independent café on Carlton Hill had been buying some of our cakes and their customers were giving them great feedback, asking where they get them from and it wasn’t long before we were up there every day delivering. We saw the shop and decided to go for it. The support we have received from the local community has been unbelievable. The other local businesses up there have welcomed us with open arms. I’ve had customers wanting selfies with me, coming in showing genuine interest in what we’re doing. I’m happy to talk about it to anyone who’ll listen. I’ve got a real passion for it and absolutely love to share that passion with our followers and customers. Unlike the bigger chains, we have the choice of dictating our own menu and recipes – it’s exciting making new flavours and seeing what hits the mark with the cheesecake connoisseurs.
What have been the big hitters that tickled the palettes of local cheesecake enthusiasts?
The Terry’s chocolate orange flies out, same with the Biscoff. Those two are definitely the bread and butter. Sticking with the roots of the business, the signature dish is definitely the unicorn cheesecake, it’s a really good looking cake and is very popular. Over Christmas, the Baileys Cheesecake was a massive success. It’s nice to do different things and change the menu up.
You opened the shop in late November and have already had massive queues. Are you surprised at how successful you’ve become in such a short space of time?
I’m not the kind of guy to pat myself on the back – we are selling out every day and all I can think is that we should be doing more. But we literally don’t have the space. We have been open two months and have already outgrown our kitchen. Jess and I have put so much into this, put so much on hold, so we are delighted with how it’s going. What we need to do is establish ourselves for a little bit longer and then think about the next steps. On the whole, we couldn’t have asked for it to go any better and are incredibly grateful.
What could your next steps look like?
Who knows! Big Mike’s restaurant? Big Mike’s burgers? There are heaps of possibilities, but I have to stay loyal to the cheesecake and keep it on any future menu for any future venues. It’s made the business what it is and deserves respect.
Carlton Hill, Carlton, NG4 1JD
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