Grilled Cheese

I cut the bread too thick. And I didn’t use enough cheese — I thought four ounces of cheese per sandwich seemed a little excessive. But maybe that’s what it takes to make the ultimate grilled cheese.
Saveur says:
“The Secret to making a perfect grilled cheese sandwich is cooking it over low heat, which brings out the subtle flavors of a cheese, and slathering the bread with butter, which crisps it in the pan. Comté, with its semifirm texture and nutty taste, is great for grilling.”
Saveur’s recipe for “the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich” calls for placing a cast-iron skillet over low heat and cooking the sandwich, flipping once, for 20 minutes. Twenty minutes! Who knew it took so long to make a grilled cheese sandwich? I did in fact cook my grilled cheese for 20 minutes and, thanks to a hefty slathering of butter, my sandwich crisped up nicely in my cast-iron pan. Oh, if only I had cut the bread thinner!
I think this cooking technique has the potential to produce a really great sandwich and next time around, I hope to find comté cheese, too. French comté is made from the milk of the Montbeliarde cows who graze on wild orchids, daisies and dandelions. Yum. If you can’t find comté, gruyère makes a fine substitute.
Don’t strain your eyes. Find the recipe here.






noble pig
Jan 16, 2009 @ 01:29:00
I saw this recipe too and want some of that cheese. Thanks for reminding me!
ttfn300
Jan 16, 2009 @ 06:25:00
ooh, i’ll have to look at that cheese! especially after squinting to read the small print
lol, oops! LOVELY photos!!!
VeggieGirl
Jan 16, 2009 @ 06:48:00
STUNNING!!!!!!!!!!!!
**Just as a heads up: I will not be able to comment on blogs as often now, during this semester, due to work overload (I’m stressed already) – PLEASE know that I’m still loyally reading, but just won’t have time to comment. I hope you understand!!
Bellini Valli
Jan 16, 2009 @ 08:50:00
The bread plays a huge role in making the perfect grilled cheese sandwich too. I just love it no matter what!!!
Lo
Jan 16, 2009 @ 10:01:00
Every time I turn around, Saveur is tempting me with a new take on something simple like grilled cheese!
This looks delicious.
Rain
Jan 16, 2009 @ 11:11:00
It still looks good to me! That with a nice hot bowl of tomato soup… yum!
melissa
Jan 16, 2009 @ 11:23:00
Very nice. Yes, it may need more cheese, but it still looks really lovely. When’s lunch?
I just read your About page and you are just awesome. I came out here for the same reason you did, though my husband left the Corps in June 2000. We stayed because we fell in love with SoCal. I hope you’re enjoying it as well.
Looking into joining the SJC CSA. Thanks for having the link on your sidebar.
Rosa's Yummy Yums
Jan 16, 2009 @ 11:31:00
Beautiful pictures! That grilled sandwich looks awesome! Yes, Gruyère is a good substitute…
Cheers,
Rosa
Foodycat
Jan 16, 2009 @ 14:04:00
What a sandwich! That is amazing. The cafe where you work looks wonderful – gorgeous dishes.
HangryPants
Jan 16, 2009 @ 18:18:00
You are too hard on yourself! The grilled cheese looks truly perfect to me! Madelines are the cutest baked good ever.
Helene
Jan 16, 2009 @ 18:25:00
We don’t have that cheese around here. Your grilled cheese looks good.
The Blonde Duck
Jan 16, 2009 @ 19:08:00
Only you could make a grilled cheese look so elegant and delectable.
Thanks for ordering my book! I hope you like it! I’m anxiously waiting to hear what you think!
Maria
Jan 16, 2009 @ 19:10:00
Looks tasty! And I love the cafe photos, what a fun job! Try to get that recipe!
giz
Jan 16, 2009 @ 19:51:00
My grilled cheese sandwiches never look that appetizing. It’s kind of the slap it together, throw it on the pan – I’m so hungry, I don’t care what it looks like school of grilled cheese
Sara
Jan 17, 2009 @ 09:39:00
I saw that article in Saveur, your sandwich looks absolutely perfect. Love the cafe pictures too, everything looks so delicious.
mikky
Jan 17, 2009 @ 10:04:00
oh my, the grilled cheese looks so inviting… i want a bite…
Rena
Jan 17, 2009 @ 13:50:00
Your pictures are glorious!
Manggy
Jan 17, 2009 @ 14:11:00
Further proof that all good things take time, eh? Looks goooorgeous, and now I have all this cheese in the States to work with, very doable! Thanks for the tip!
blueberryhil
Jan 17, 2009 @ 17:47:00
I love grilled cheese sandwiches. I will have to try this variation, because it looks delicious.
My salad was from a restaurant called Tender Greens in Culver City (suburb of LA). I think they also have a location in San Diego.
http://www.tendergreensfood.com/
Angsana
Jan 17, 2009 @ 18:17:00
Thanks for trying out the grilled cheese sandwich. Like ttfn, I too read the magazine but have never tried making the sandwich.
Annie
Jan 18, 2009 @ 17:23:00
I am definitely having grilled cheese for lunch today! And congrats on being patient enough to cook a sandwich for 20 minutes – I know I will get impatient and turn the heat up!
Clumbsy Cookie
Jan 19, 2009 @ 10:47:00
Ok I guess I’ll have to make grilled cheese for dinner tonight after this!
RecipeGirl
Jan 20, 2009 @ 12:37:00
Completely delicious. Add a cup of tomato soup and there’s the perfect lunch for me!
I didn’t know you worked in a cafe- that must be rather fun.
Jessy and her dog Winnie
Jan 20, 2009 @ 18:55:00
Omg that grilled cheese looks so good…
Bunny
Jan 21, 2009 @ 18:57:00
The cafe looks so nice! I’ll have to make a grilled cheese this way, I love the crispy exterior! I saw a chocolate chip cookie in one of those pictures that was perfect, can you get the recipe for that from the chef????!!!!!
Jenny
Jan 22, 2009 @ 08:07:00
This looks fantastic! Great photos!
Any Little Reason
Jan 22, 2009 @ 15:09:00
I. Want. That. Sandwich.
Apples and Butter
Jan 22, 2009 @ 22:18:00
Absolutely delicious photos! I love grilled cheese sandwiches and will have to try out the recipe. The cafe you work at looks like it has delicious food! Cafe Mimosa? I’ll have to look it up. We head to San Diego a few times a year and we may just have to stop by on the way down next time!
eliza
Jan 22, 2009 @ 22:27:00
those cheese sandwich look sooo good!
Maria
Jan 23, 2009 @ 19:35:00
There’s nothing like a good grilled cheese sandwich and that photo there–bread too thick or not–looks fine to me. Twenty minutes IS a long time though!!
The photos are quite a treat as well.
we are never full
Jan 24, 2009 @ 17:25:00
there’s nothing more classic and simple and comforting than a grilled cheese. you can’t f it up. 2 slices of wonder bread and a slice of crappy yellow american and i’m smiling. THIS grilled cheese and i’m in euphoria!
squirrelbread
Jan 30, 2009 @ 15:53:00
you have a fabulous blog on your hands. i’m glad i stumbled in… and just in time for grilled cheese! how’d you know?
launched my own food blog last week and would love for you to pop over some time!
cheers,
*heather*
http://squirrelbread.wordpress.com