Presidential “Grilled Cheese Sandwich”

I’m starting the New Year with some simple comfort foods. A “Grilled Cheese Sandwich” along with a bowl of homemade tomato soup absolutely hits the spot, especially on these cold winter days. I’m trying to include “meatless” meals in my diet and this is an easy way to accomplish that goal. I have to admit that I’ve never been a fan of “Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.” But, as the years have gone along, I’ve figured out a couple of “hacks” to make some pretty good grilled cheese sandwiches. And, my sandwich is patterned after one which Presidential Obama supposedly ate at a upstate New York restaurant.

Learning to Like “New Foods”

We can all learn to like new foods. Take grilled cheese sandwiches which I absolutely wanted nothing to do with for years and years. The turning point in learning to enjoy melted cheese on bread was a meal at trendy restaurant in Rochester, New York. This was the Magnolia’s Deli & Cafe. The folklore is that President Obama ate there once while he was president, ordering a Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Tomato Soup. What? I was surprised that such a simple sandwich was on the menu. However, if it was good enough for the president, then I had to try it, too. And, I have to admit that the sandwich was delicious. It was served on a multi-grain and seed bread which was the highlight of the entree. The sandwich was crispy on the outside and flavorful throughout. The cheese did not overwhelm the sandwich which was another good point for me. I guess that President Obama was on to something.

My second “ah, ha” moment in learning to like grilled cheese sandwiches was when someone gave me dill pickles to put on my sandwich. The pickles seemed to tame down the cheese and that really made all the difference for me. Wow, these sandwiches can be pretty good!

Grilled Cheese Sandwich “Tips”

Here are several tips which I use to turn grilled cheese sandwiches into something special.

1. Bread which is firm and dense makes the best grilled cheese sandwiches, in my opinion. I loved the locally sourced, multi-grain and seed whole wheat bread served at the Rochester restaurant. That bread came from a nearby local bakery, the Bakers Street Bakery. After we discovered this bakery, you can bet that we made a visit to this establishment at every visit to Rochester. For additional bread for grilled cheese sandwiches, challah is perfect. So is sourdough bread. I avoid breads which have sweeteners added. Nope.

2. The type of cheese makes a difference. My preference is a combination of both white cheddar and yellow cheddar cheeses. This cheese melts! Since cheese comes in many shapes and sizes, I weighted the cheese to figure out how much one sandwich uses. About 2 oz cheese per sandwich is plenty according to my tastes. Although many cheeses can be used to make a great sandwich, just old-fashioned sharp cheddar cheese works for me.

3. My coating for the bread is unique and makes a crunchy and flavorful crust. I use a combination of mayonnaise and butter. What, mayonnaise? Yes, this is my best “hack.” It gives a crisp, toasted texture to the sandwich. Try it.

4. I always add a couple of dill pickles to the sandwich. This addition tipped the scales and was how I learned to liked grilled cheese sandwiches.

5. For grilling, I get out my trusty cast iron skillet. This skillet holds the heat evenly and makes it possible to grill the sandwiches and melt the cheese without burning the bread or trying to adjust the temperature of the stove higher or lower.

6. Another trick is to grill the sandwiches on a relatively low heat on the stove. It takes a little time to grill the sandwiches this way; but it works. The cheese melts and the bread is not burnt. Pre-heat the skillet to a low-medium heat. (Do not add oil or butter to the skillet.) Fry the sandwich on one side for approximately 3 minutes; flip and fry on the second side for about 2 to 3 minutes. In other words, fry until the cheese melts and the bread is grilled. If I’m cooking for only two folks, a small 7″-diameter skillet works. However, for a crowd, I’ll pull out my larger 9″-diameter cast iron frying pan.

And, that’s it. Magnolia Cafe & Deli served the sandwich with a bowl of tomato soup. This is the perfect accompaniment and I highly recommend that combination. I posted a recipe for “Savory, Silky Tomato Soup” on this blog in 2019 which is my favorite and is relatively easy to mix up (see reference). The recipe uses canned tomatoes which makes it easy to prepare any time of the year.

Our country held an inauguration several weeks ago for a new president. It is one of those rare occasions when all our past presidents were assembled together. Whether or not you agree with each one’s policies is a matter of personal preference. It was good to see a simple, peaceful transfer of the presidency. And, it is hard to deny that past President Obama has good tastes in grilled cheese sandwiches.

Enjoy some good old-fashioned comfort foods during this cold, blistery winter!

Reference: