What makes a good cheesecake? I need a majority opinion

[stealthsquiggle]

I am making a (surprise) birthday cake for someone and have been told that what she would really like is a cheesecake. Decorating ideas are, as it happens, transferable to a cheesecake, and I haven't made the cake yet, so that is fine.

Now I have strong opinions as to what constitutes a good cheesecake, but I have no idea if she (or indeed anyone else) shares them. So in the absence of more information from the cheesecake suggesters(I have asked for more) I need a majority opinion to go with...

apparently organic digestives don't go soggy if you use them for the base. Don't ask me why!

I prefer the baked ones, definitely. Vanilla always good

OK, so I am not entirely alone, but are ProfG and I a minority of 2?

Baked vanilla with a very thick topping..... raisins can be nice..... as can raspberries... and blueberries...

...there isn't a definitive cheescake.
All cheesecake is good

oggs you see there I disagree with you.

lemon cheesecake = bad
raisins in cheesecake = bad
(and I love raisins in other things!)

awkward, me.

I really don't like the baked ones - prefer the chilled ones.
You can mix in some ginger bisuits with the digestives - goes well with strawberries!

I'm with sophierosie. Chilled ones for me too and ginger nuts!

DH loves baked cheesecake served warm and fresh with blueberrys and double cream

Kids and I love chilled no bake "English" cheesecake with crunchy biscuit base and zingy creamy filling with lemon zest.

I love baked and unbaked cheesecake, but always vanilla and definitely no ginger!

I guess it was a bad idea to look for consensus from MN, but I was hoping for a clear majority.

[sigh]

The recipient is way too polite to say if I make exactly the wrong sort of cheesecake.

my most requested one is a white chocolate cheesecake and its FABULOUS and ridicliously easy to make so everyone thinks you're a genuis!!

Message withdrawn

Baked

Vanilla

NO RAISINS. EVER.

tesco oaty biscuits make a lovely base too

Vanilla a must - I prefer simple NY style cheeecake myself.

Vanilla a must - I prefer simple NY style cheesecake myself.
No ginger, lemon or raisins. EVER.

seriously - nobody else for the white chocolate??!

Chocolate and cheesecake should never be mixed.

Waitrose do the most divine NY cheesecake pavlov. Have you tried it?

baked with raisins, lemon and vanilla... mmmm... I have to make that again.

I like:

baked WITH raisins
chilled with LOTS of lemon and made with fresh Quark and digestives.

NO chocolate or pink-jam-food-product

[evil cackle]

the thread is turning towards my own inclination (identical to Pavlov's)

Dizzy - your suggestion leaves me torn as I hate white chocolate but I suspect the recipient might love it...

Chilled, not baked.
NO RAISINS EVER.

Need a good thick layer of fruit topping.

Oh,can I join in this discussion? I would LOVE to know about the white chocolate one, I love cheesecake and white chocolate! I always make an Annabel Karmel one. It's easy, always turns out gorgeous, and it always gets lots of compliments.....if you want the recepie?! Its just a simple baked one, with the option of sultanas, but Ive never put them in....

stealth I made is as dh is a white chocolate fan and now I have to make it for every family gathering/party/work do/ just because occassion ever

its lovely on its own or with strawberry/raspberry topping too

baked vanilla, with raspberry topping
And it must stick to the roof of your mouth.