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.
Since all I have to offer today is an unperfected grilled cheese sandwich, I thought I’d share some pictures with you as well. All of these are taken at the cafe where I work. If I can somehow get the chef to share his recipe for lemon madeleines, I will be sure to report back … they are so damn good.
32 Comments
I saw this recipe too and want some of that cheese. Thanks for reminding me!
ooh, i’ll have to look at that cheese! especially after squinting to read the small print
lol, oops! LOVELY photos!!!
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!!
The bread plays a huge role in making the perfect grilled cheese sandwich too. I just love it no matter what!!!
Every time I turn around, Saveur is tempting me with a new take on something simple like grilled cheese!
This looks delicious.
It still looks good to me! That with a nice hot bowl of tomato soup… yum!
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.
Beautiful pictures! That grilled sandwich looks awesome! Yes, Gruyère is a good substitute…
Cheers,
Rosa
What a sandwich! That is amazing. The cafe where you work looks wonderful – gorgeous dishes.
You are too hard on yourself! The grilled cheese looks truly perfect to me! Madelines are the cutest baked good ever.
We don’t have that cheese around here. Your grilled cheese looks good.
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!
Looks tasty! And I love the cafe photos, what a fun job! Try to get that recipe!
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
I saw that article in Saveur, your sandwich looks absolutely perfect. Love the cafe pictures too, everything looks so delicious.
oh my, the grilled cheese looks so inviting… i want a bite…
Your pictures are glorious!
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!
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/
Thanks for trying out the grilled cheese sandwich. Like ttfn, I too read the magazine but have never tried making the sandwich.
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!
Ok I guess I’ll have to make grilled cheese for dinner tonight after this!
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.
Omg that grilled cheese looks so good…
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????!!!!!
This looks fantastic! Great photos!
I. Want. That. Sandwich.
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!
those cheese sandwich look sooo good!
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.
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!
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