It saw the light of day during the pandemic, when Hugo Candeias, who had just returned from many years of working in Spain, applied his skills to create a cheesecake known as Basque—although it doesn't originate there—that became popular from San Sebastián-Donostia to the rest of the world.

With a perfectly toasted, thin caramelized crust and surprisingly creamy inside, the recipe quickly gained a loyal following during its first year as the dessert of choice at Ofício. In 2022, Dona by Hugo Candeias was born, allowing whole tarts to be ordered and enjoyed by customers in their own homes.