SIMPLY VANILLA GOURMET CHEESECAKES OUTGROWS HOME KITCHEN AND MOVES INTO BRICK-AND-MORTAR RESTAURANT
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LUCAS MOORE
It all started with two broken legs. Jessica Kercher and her two-year-old daughter suffered the same injury in the same week. She wanted to thank a family friend for helping to take care of her daughter. With her husband out of town and no way to get to the grocery store, Jessica used what she had in the house to make one of the trickiest desserts: a cheesecake.
That family friend told a few people about the delicious cheesecake Jessica made, and word spread. Soon Jessica’s culinary skills were in high demand. Five years later, she owns Simply Vanilla Gourmet Cheesecakes, which grew from her kitchen to a new 1600-square-foot restaurant.
Jessica has always had a passion for culinary arts. After receiving a degree in hospitality management, she worked for Sodexo at Liberty University. Jessica left that position to start a family—and ultimately found her dream job. “I always felt like there was something more,” she says. “I loved talking to people, I loved customer service, and I loved the art form of pastries themselves.”
One of the first things Jessica did was come up with a name for her new business. “From the very beginning, it had a name. It had a brand. The brand spoke for itself. Simply Vanilla came from the fact that it came from one recipe, one idea. A simple idea,” Jessica says.
She secured food safety certifications to make cheesecakes in her kitchen. Then the Kercher family moved from Lynchburg to Forest to a home with a bigger kitchen—and the business grew from there. “I would wake up at 2 or 3 in the morning and I would bake until my kids had to go to school,” Jessica says. “So I knew I had a certain timeline. Eventually that timeline went all night.”
She sold out of pop-ups at River Ridge and partnered with other restaurants like Bean Tree Café and Mission House Coffee. As her cheesecakes gained even more popularity, she decided to bring on a team and pursue a brick-and-mortar store. In August 2019, they signed a lease and built their restaurant in a brand-new shopping center just off Route 221 in Forest.
When you walk into Simply Vanilla Gourmet Cheesecakes, you will see a display of 12 to 15 different cheesecake flavors. A four-inch cheesecake is $10. They also make quiches, scones and other baked goods from scratch, plus a different soup each day. Jessica wants customers to think of this as a meeting place—where you can eat lunch and get something sweet for dessert.
You can also order ahead, a popular choice around the holidays. And in February, Simply Vanilla debuted a new two-bite cheesecake option called “petites.”
Jessica says their top seller is the White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake. She sees a lot of customers try that on their first visit, then come back for something more adventurous, such as the Grasshopper or Red Velvet.
Her team put in a lot of work making sure the restaurant would be a success. They even visited pastry shops in France, taking notes on how they displayed their products. “It is a show when you walk in. It is an experience beyond the taste of the products,” Jessica says. “It is a full package deal when you walk in here.”
Simply Vanilla is a true family affair. Jessica’s husband Ahron Kercher (a nuclear engineer) is the technical expert. Travis Burckhard is the executive chef and his wife Donna is the marketing director. They have big plans for 2020, including the launch of a website where you can place online orders. Jessica says the next step is to offer made-to-order sandwiches and salads.
The team of 12 employees is going to keep testing out new offerings for customers. “The good thing about the business is that we get to play a lot more. We get to try different flavors, we get to play with different savory products,” Jessica says.
Making a cheesecake takes time—and patience. “There’s a reason why people stray away from cheesecake. It is very temperamental,” Jessica says. “It does require a specific process to keep it consistent.”
The team at Simply Vanilla Gourmet Cheesecakes is happy to do that work for you.
Simply Vanilla Gourmet Cheesecakes 1381 Crossings Centre Drive, Suite C, Forest, VA 24551 @SimplyVanillaGourmet on Facebook Mon.-Wed. 7 a.m.-3 p.m. • Thurs. & Fri. 7 a.m.-6 p.m. • Sat. 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
SNEAK PEEK!
A LOOK AHEAD TO THE AREA’S THEATER OPPORTUNITIES
Information Compiled by Emily Mook
If you’re a fan of the theater, the greater Lynchburg region has a little something for everyone. From high school students to professional actors, we are lucky to live in a community that invests in and supports its performers of all levels. To make it even easier, we’ve compiled our annual Theater Preview Guide to highlight the year’s upcoming local shows.
Community/Professional
Academy Center of the Arts 600 Main Street, Lynchburg academycenter.org
Community Through Theatre Presents: Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time “Christopher, 15 years old, stands beside Mrs. Shears’ dead dog. It has been speared with a garden fork, it is seven minutes after midnight and Christopher is under suspicion.” March 7, March 12-14 at 7:30 p.m., March 8 and 15 at 2 p.m. at the Joy & Lynch Christian Warehouse Theatre
Opera on the James Presents: The Barber of Seville “The story is simple: a handsome young nobleman is in love with an independent-minded young woman, who is kept under constant surveillance by her elderly (and ill-tempered) guardian. Enter the Barber, who, through various ruses—one of which includes a mountain of shaving cream—saves the day.” March 27 at 7 p.m., March 29 at 2 p.m. at the Historic Academy Theatre
Academy Presents: Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood LIVE! “Daniel Tiger and his family—along with O the Owl, Miss Elaina, Katerina Kittycat, Prince Wednesday, and more familiar friends—will take audiences on an interactive adventure to the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, sharing stories of friendship, helping others and celebrating new experiences.” April 5 at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. at the Historic Academy Theatre
Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest Presents: A Conversation with Mr. Jefferson Featuring Frederick Douglass “Thomas Jefferson is joined by famed abolitionist, autobiographer, and orator Frederick Douglass for a fascinating look at their lives and legacies.” April 25 at 7 p.m. at the Historic Academy Theatre
Academy Presents: Reduced Shakespeare Company: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] “All 37 Plays in 97 Minutes! The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] is an irreverent, fast-paced romp through the Bard’s plays.” May 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Academy Theatre
Endstation Theatre Company 2500 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg endstationtheatre.org * All evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. All matinee performances begin at 2 p.m.
On Golden Pond “The plot focuses on aging couple Ethel and Norman Thayer, who spend each summer at their home on a lake called Golden Pond. … The play explores the often turbulent relationship [the daughter] shared with her father growing up and the difficulties faced by a couple in the twilight years of a long marriage.” June 19-21, 23-28 at Thoresen Theatre, Randolph CollegeCollege
Bye Bye Birdie “Bye Bye Birdie is an American musical about fictional pop sensation Conrad Birdie and his final performance before being drafted to the army. He promises a song and a kiss to a typical American teenager on the Ed Sullivan Show.” July 14-19, 21-26 at the Warehouse Theatre, Academy Center of the Arts
The Twelve Dates of Christmas “Christmas celebrations are just around the corner and Shirley the Partridge has got some problems to solve. The French Hens are arguing, the six geese have flown to Florida for the winter and worst of all… someone has stolen the Five Golden Rings!” December 17-20, location TBD
Little Town Players 931 Ashland Avenue, Bedford www.littletownplayers.com
I Hate Hamlet “TV star Andrew Rally is about to start rehearsals to play Hamlet—and he is terrified. In the midst of his confusion, he is visited by the ghost of legendary actor John Barrymore.” Directed by David Walton. March 13-15, 20-22
Once Upon a Mattress “This musical comedy opened off-Broadway in 1959 before moving to Broadway. It was written as an adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, ‘The Princess and the Pea.’” Directed by Denis F. Deane. June 5-7, 12-14 *Friday and Saturday night shows begin at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday shows at 2 p.m.
Renaissance Theatre 1022 Commerce Street, Lynchburg renaissancetheatrelynchburg.org * Thursday, Friday, and Saturday shows begin at 8 p.m., doors open at 7:30 p.m. Sunday matinees begin at 3 p.m., doors open at 2:30 p.m.
M*A*S*H: The Play “The staff of a Korean War field hospital use humor and hijinks to keep their sanity in the face of the horror of war. Some of your favorite characters from the TV show are here: Radar O’Reilly, Painless the dentist and, of course, Hawkeye. Join us for the hilarity as they run amok in the 4077 MASH!” March 1, 5-7
Other Desert Cities “Brooke Wyeth returns home to celebrate Christmas. She announces that she is about to publish a memoir dredging up a pivotal and tragic event in the family’s history—a wound they don’t want reopened.” April 24-25 and May 1-3, 7-9
Nana’s Naughty Knickers “What Bridget saw as a unique opportunity to stay with her favorite Nana in New York for the summer quickly turns into an experience she’ll never forget! Her sweet Grandma is running an illegal boutique from her apartment, selling hand-made naughty knickers to every senior citizen in the five-borough area!” July 10-11, 17-19, 23-25
Sister Act “When disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in a convent! Using her unique disco moves and singing talent to inspire the choir, Deloris breathes new life into the church and community but, in doing so, blows her cover.” October 2-3, 9-11, 15-17
A Good Old Fashioned Redneck Country Christmas “Bill, Dave, and Jimmy have had it with their women! Even though it’s Christmas Eve, the boys decide to hightail it into the mountains for a little hunting and a lot of beer. It’s gonna take a Christmas miracle to get these redneck families back together.” December 4-5, 11-13, 17-19
Wolfbane Productions 618 Country Club Road, Appomattox wolfbane.org * Thursday, Friday, & Saturday Performances: All shows start at 8 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m. * Sunday Performances: All shows except Young Frankenstein start at 3 p.m., doors open at 2 p.m. Young Frankenstein Sunday performances start at 8 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m.
Steel Magnolias “Picture it: anybody who’s anybody comes to get their hair done here. Winner of Wolfbane’s 2020 Audience Choice poll, get up close and personal with the ladies like never before: no stage, no curtain, just hair… and a little bit of gossip.” May 7-10, 14-17, 21-24, 28-31 at The Wolf Den indoor venue
Young Frankenstein “Based on the hilarious Mel Brooks classic, with all your favorite characters: the famous doctor Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced ‘Fronk-en-steen’), the hunchbacked sidekick Igor (pronounced ‘Eye-gore’), the leggy lab assistant Inga (pronounced normally), and more!” October 8-11, 15-18, 22-25, October 29-November 1 at the Wolf PAC outdoor venue
Stranger Sings “Written exclusively for Wolfbane by Cinco Paul, this highly energetic, feel-good parody returns just in time for the holidays! Based on the first season of the hit Netflix show ‘Stranger Things,’ join Chopper and Twelve (see what we did there) as they journey through another dimension with Eggos, Demogorgons, and Madonna.” December 3-6, 10-13, 17-20 at the Wolf Den indoor venue
College
Liberty Tower Theater/Alluvion Stage Company 1971 University Boulevard, Lynchburg liberty.edu/academics/art/theatre & alluvionstage.com
Sonic-Con Audio Theatre Convention “Sonic-Con is an audio theatre convention featuring interactive workshops, industry professionals, and live radio dramas. The convention will be the 20th-22nd, but we’ll have select performances available on the evenings of the 23rd and 24th. Tickets to the public performances sold separately from the convention passes.” March 23-24 at 7:30 p.m. at Liberty University
The Drowsy Chaperone (Academic Performance) “Hailed by New York Magazine as ‘The Perfect Broadway Musical,’ The Drowsy Chaperone is a masterful meta-musical, poking fun at all the tropes that characterize the musical theatre genre.” April 17-18, 21, 23-25 at 7:30 p.m., April 18 and 25 at 2 p.m., April 26 at 3 p.m. at the Tower Theater
University of Lynchburg Theatre 1501 Lakeside Drive, Lynchburg lynchburg.edu/academics/majors-and-minors/theatre/
Curtain Call Musical Theatre Cabaret “Come share a night of heartfelt joy, laughter and of course, singing. With music from Bright Star, Once, Big River and more!” March 27-28 at 7:30 p.m. at Dillard Theatre
Student Theatre Production (production TBD) “Entirely produced and executed by students working collaboratively to find their own vision and voice. Mature themes and language.” April 22-24 at 7 p.m. at Studio Theatre Stage
Randolph College Theatre 2500 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg randolphcollege.edu/theatre
The Mousetrap “A timeless tale of ‘whodunit,’ Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap strands seven strangers at Monkswell Manor during a blizzard. But a police sergeant unexpectedly arrives, worried that a murderer-at-large is among the guests of the Manor.” Directed by Stephanie Holladay Earl. April 9-12, times TBD
Circle Mirror Transformation by Annie Baker “Sweet Briar Theatre presents the acclaimed play by Annie Baker about how a community acting workshop gradually reveals the hopes, fears, and unresolved conflicts among a random group of people in a small New England town. This play is directed by Sarah Jane Grubb as part of her senior project in Theatre.” May 8-9 at 7:30 p.m. at Babcock Studio Theater
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast “The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress! If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed into his former self. But time is running out.” April 30, May 1-3, May 7-8 at 7 p.m., May 9-10 at 3 p.m.
City on a Hill Youth Theater 219 Breezewood Drive, Lynchburg facebook.com/CityOnAHillYouthTheater
Pride and Prejudice “Finding a husband is hardly Elizabeth Bennet’s most urgent priority. But with four sisters, an overzealous match-making mother, and a string of unsuitable suitors, it’s difficult to escape the subject.” April 23-May 2, times TBD
Brookville Theatre (Brookville High School) 100 Laxton Road, Lynchburg facebook.com/BrookvilleHighSchoolTheatre/
42nd Street “Aspiring chorus girl Peggy Sawyer comes to the big city from Allentown, PA, and soon lands her first big job in the ensemble of a glitzy new Broadway show.” April 2-3 at 7 p.m., April 4 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., April 5 at 2 p.m.
Fame JR. “Set during the last years of New York City’s celebrated High School for the Performing Arts in the early 1980s, Fame JR. is the bittersweet, but ultimately inspiring, story of a diverse group of students who commit to four years of grueling artistic and academic work.” May 21-22 at 7 p.m., May 23 at 2 p.m.
Glass Theatre (E.C. Glass High School) 211 Memorial Avenue, Lynchburg ecglasstheatre.org
In the Heights “Lin Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood—a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music.” April 29-30, May 1-3 at 7 p.m.
Roald Dahl’s Matilda, The Musical “Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence, and psychokinetic powers. She’s unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey.” April 3-4 and April 9-11 at 7 p.m., April 5 at 3 p.m.
Liberty Christian Academy Theatre 3701 Candlers Mountain Road, Lynchburg facebook.com/TheatreLca/
The Sound of Music “Set in Austria on the eve of the Anschluss in 1938, the musical tells the story of Maria, who takes a job as governess to a large family while she decides whether to become a nun.” May 14-15 at 7 p.m., May 16 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., May 17 at 3 p.m. at Liberty University’s Tower Theatre
LET’S MAKE A BABY!
SIMPLE AND ENDLESSLY VERSATILE, THIS RECIPE COULD BE THE MAIN ATTRACTION OF A STRESS-FREE WEEKNIGHT DINNER PARTY
PHOTOGRAPHY BY RJ GOODWIN
The best parties are the fun ones—the ones you leave with a smile on your face. But if you are the host, there can sometimes be too much to do to enjoy your own event. Take heed—these three tips for stress-free party planning will help you relax and enjoy the night:
1. Weeknight over weekend. Everyone’s weekends are so busy that scheduling becomes a nightmare. Why not pick a weeknight when more of your guests are available? Since nobody expects you to take the day off to cook and clean, expectations are automatically lower, and by having people over on a weeknight, they tend to say goodnight faster.
2. Keep the guest list small. The best parties are often the smaller ones, giving you a chance to have more interesting conversations and get to know your friends on a closer level. Inviting 4-6 guests is a good number for that, without too much work involved.
3. Cook only one thing. It’s tempting to try too hard and attempt more dishes than you should. Keep the menu simple, but make things festive by serving in nice dishes. Plan to make only one thing yourself and assemble the rest. For instance, the recipe below for a savory Dutch Baby makes for a fun, dramatic (but quick) main course. Serve with a Spinach-Strawberry salad and some good ice cream with store-bought pound cake for dessert and you have a party!
Dutch Baby Makes 4-6 servings per “baby” Prep time: 20 min Total time: 45 min
INGREDIENTS 3 extra large eggs 3/4 cup whole milk 2+1 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (I use King Arthur brand) 2 tablespoons cornstarch 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
RECIPE PREPARATION Place a 12” cast iron skillet in the oven and heat to 450 degrees. Let skillet heat up for 20 minutes while you prepare the batter.
In a regular blender, blend eggs until frothy, about 30 seconds. Add milk and 2 tablespoons of the melted butter and blend for another 10 seconds. Add flour, cornstarch, salt, and pepper and blend just to combine.
Remove the skillet from oven and carefully pour remaining 1 tablespoon of butter into it and swirl quickly to coat. Before the butter burns, pour the blender-batter into the skillet. Bake until settled in the middle and puffy and brown around the edges. Don’t worry if one side is taller than the other; that’s part of the fun (and it will sink down, somewhat).
TOPPING IDEAS A Dutch Baby lends itself equally well to both savory and sweet toppings without changes to the recipe. It’s a blank canvas for being creative! Here are some of my favorites:
• Mascarpone, berries and powdered sugar (great, make-ahead dessert!)
• Mozzarella, pepperoni and basil (add topping and then bake under broiler for a few minutes to melt cheese)
• Sautéed kale, crispy bacon, and shaved Parmesan (I like green curly kale because it’s very mild)
Artists Profile: Amy Burczyk March/April 2020
Oil Paint Artist Embraces Her “Inner Child”
PHOTOS BY LUCAS MOORE
Lynchburg Living Editor Shelley Basinger: Amy, we’ve been hearing a lot about you as an artist. Some even calling you a “visionary”! How would you describe your artwork? Amy Burczyk: It’s a juxtaposition between child-like presentation and serious subject matter. There is a use of color and characters that’s easy to relate to. I’ve also been called an illustrator—and I’m fine with that. I just paint my interpretation of stories or the stories that pop into my head. I just let my imagination run without all the constraints of being an adult all the time.
SB: Can you give us one example? AB: “Time to Make the Donuts” is the story of working women in a man’s world. She does it all—raises the kids and brings home the bacon, both represented by the pig. The squid represents her ability to multitask in a dog-eat-dog world. She does not climb the ladder, but steps down—does she recognize the need for balance? Those around her express disdain, incredulity and a patronizing superiority, while her demeanor is unmoved by them.
SB: Where did you get the idea to approach artwork in this way? AB: It was less of an idea than it was a reaction to a phase of my life and what I was going through about 8 years ago. My kids were grown, my marriage was over and I found myself in Virginia. It was a complete 180 from what I had known. It was scary; I felt very alone. But, at the same time, it was very freeing. There was no one else that I had to please and I had a lot of time for reflection. My meltdown came while unpacking. I found my antique copy of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and it was ruined! I had always liked art as a child so I painted my first work in Virginia, “Cheshire Cat.” It opened up a whole new world for me and was so much cheaper than therapy.
SB: At what point did you realize you were doing more than just healing… but were able to sell your work? AB: I stopped in to a little cafe in South Boston—Southern Plenty, owned and operated by Mary Bagwell who is an amazing artist and chef—and she was selling some local artists’ work out of the cafe. I showed her a picture of a couple of my pieces and asked her if she would consider selling mine. She said NO. Instead, she sent me to the Prizery where Chris Jones offered me my first show here in Virginia! Thank you Mary and Chris!
SB: It’s so awesome to look back on the people who helped us get to where we are. How are you involved in the Lynchburg art community now? AB: I become a member of the Lynchburg Art Club two years ago. There are so many talented members; I was really rather intimidated to join the club with all that talent! But they were so receptive to my work, even though it was very different from theirs. I won an award at a juried show and their response was, “Let’s give you a show.” I’ve had a few exhibits at private businesses and the Lynchburg Humane Society, but it wasn’t until I joined the Lynchburg Art Club that I received any real notice here in Lynchburg. I was also given the opportunity to do a pop-up show at Riverviews Art Space—Kim, Meg and Stephen have really made Riverviews a special place!
SB: Are you working on anything special right now? AB: I’ll be exhibiting at Magnolia Foods and Flint Realty in March through the Academy Center of the Arts. I’m working on my own Tarot deck—just the Major Arcana (22 pieces). I also have a wedding portrait commission I’m working on. The groom is a polar bear and the guests are birds—ageless. I love these kinds of commissions! And of course, other stories that pop into my head.
SB: And we have to mention—you are doing all of this on the weekends! AB: Sunday Fundays are spent painting. During the week, I’m a designer at LG Flint Construction, which creates a nice balance for me. The sense of composition, rhythm, color and discipline translate across design and painting. I love my design work. My creative side helps me address design issues with my tendency to use my “what if” in a functional way. The people at LG Flint are fantastic to work with and our clients are amazing! I’m not going to lie though—if I won a big lottery, I might paint all the time!
SB: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received that’s helped you as an artist? AB: Ken Ludlow, my high school art instructor, was the best! And the most relentless. Observe, line weight, see, thumbnails, look, rules, sketch, look again, more lines… and on and on to the point where I feel like my hands can SEE what pictures are in my head.
SB: What’s your best advice to aspiring artists? AB: 1) “Arting” should be a word, and you should do it as often as you can. 2) Do the art YOU like. It is much easier and more rewarding. 3) Exhibit—call it group therapy. It helps you stretch and grow as an artist.
