The first time I gave grilled cheese sandwiches serious thought as a culinary rallying force was when I initially came across Kalyn Denny’s South-Beach centered blog ‘Kalyn’s Kitchen’ some time in 2006. In it she posted a passionate response to columnist Pete Well’s article in Food & Wine “In the Belly of the Blog” where he stated that the major of food blogs amount to little more than dull meanderings about cheese sandwiches.
Having never really had grilled cheese sandwiches outside of my own home, I found her argument interesting, but had nothing to judge it against. After a few moments of ponderous silence, I filed the article in the back of my head under ‘curious’ and went on with daily life.
Then early last year I passed by a friend’s house around lunchtime. She offered to make some grilled cheese sandwiches and I was thrilled. Cheese, two slices of bread, and a microwave, what could be snappier right? Wrong. Imagine my shock as she turned on her gas-top stove and started buttering the bread on both sides! Unable to disguise my amazement she asked me if I had never made it that way before? Then continued, that it really was the best way to make grilled cheese, as the butter gave the bread additional flavour and a lovely color.
Made sense 
However when I asked her when she was going to put the pepper sauce, it was -her- turn to look aghast! I guess there are as many ways to make grilled cheese sandwiches as there are grilled cheese sandwiches 
How do you enjoy yours?
About Sarina
Passionate foodie, founder of Trinigourmet and Caribbean Lifestyle Maven. Author of "Glam By Request: 30+ Easy Caribbean Recipes"
This month marks the third installment of my “CookALong” series where a prominent (usually) Caribbean personality follows one of my recipes, and sometimes throws in a few of their own This week however I’m shaking things up a bit by ...
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“fried” grilled cheese is something i think of as a very canadian comfort food. i love sharp old cheddar on light rye bread. i eat the sandwich dipped in ketchup with a dill pickle on the side. swiss cheese or havarti can also be nice, too.
“fried” grilled cheese is something i think of as a very canadian comfort food. i love sharp old cheddar on light rye bread. i eat the sandwich dipped in ketchup with a dill pickle on the side. swiss cheese or havarti can also be nice, too.
You used to microwave your grilled cheeses?? Hehe. I just assumed the buttered, skillet method was the only way! Then again where I grew up pretty much everything was cooked with butter on a skillet!
Pan fried with butter is definitely the way to go. I used to do it in a toaster oven when I was younger and now I’ll toast bread and make a sandwich when I want a really quick GCS. But if I want to do it “right”, this is how I’d do it. If I were feeling crazy I’d sprinkle a little granulated garlic on top as I was frying.
Dang, wish I was home to fix one right now!
Nate’s last blog post..Malaysian Honeycomb Cake Recipe
You used to microwave your grilled cheeses?? Hehe. I just assumed the buttered, skillet method was the only way! Then again where I grew up pretty much everything was cooked with butter on a skillet!
Pan fried with butter is definitely the way to go. I used to do it in a toaster oven when I was younger and now I’ll toast bread and make a sandwich when I want a really quick GCS. But if I want to do it “right”, this is how I’d do it. If I were feeling crazy I’d sprinkle a little granulated garlic on top as I was frying.
Dang, wish I was home to fix one right now!
Nate’s last blog post..Malaysian Honeycomb Cake Recipe
I think of the pan fried grilled cheese sandwich as an American thing. My version is Anchor (ALWAYS Anchor!) Cheddar, on “tight bread”, which I assume is unleavened bread, grilled on the broiler or in the toaster oven. That and a glass of lime juice – - heaven!!
When we were in school, the tuck shop used to sell cheese sandwiches. Grated cheese mixed with butter, mayo and mustard, slathered between still-warm $1 bread (long, thin loaves similar to baguettes). Oh that was amazing.
YingYang’s last blog post..“It isn’t easy being green”
I think of the pan fried grilled cheese sandwich as an American thing. My version is Anchor (ALWAYS Anchor!) Cheddar, on “tight bread”, which I assume is unleavened bread, grilled on the broiler or in the toaster oven. That and a glass of lime juice – - heaven!!
When we were in school, the tuck shop used to sell cheese sandwiches. Grated cheese mixed with butter, mayo and mustard, slathered between still-warm $1 bread (long, thin loaves similar to baguettes). Oh that was amazing.
YingYang’s last blog post..“It isn’t easy being green”
I think of the pan fried grilled cheese sandwich as an American thing. My version is Anchor (ALWAYS Anchor!) Cheddar, on “tight bread”, which I assume is unleavened bread, grilled on the broiler or in the toaster oven. That and a glass of lime juice – - heaven!!
When we were in school, the tuck shop used to sell cheese sandwiches. Grated cheese mixed with butter, mayo and mustard, slathered between still-warm $1 bread (long, thin loaves similar to baguettes). Oh that was amazing.
YingYang’s last blog post..“It isn’t easy being green”
I do both Microwave and skillet, also I like to open them up and put in a large slice of tomato a leaf of lettuce ans of course the pepper sauce
F
I do both Microwave and skillet, also I like to open them up and put in a large slice of tomato a leaf of lettuce ans of course the pepper sauce
F
I do both Microwave and skillet, also I like to open them up and put in a large slice of tomato a leaf of lettuce ans of course the pepper sauce
F
Pan fried in butter. Lots of butter. Butter on the bread and in the pan.
pam’s last blog post..And the Oscar Goes To…..Me!
Pan fried in butter. Lots of butter. Butter on the bread and in the pan.
pam’s last blog post..And the Oscar Goes To…..Me!
Pan fried in butter. Lots of butter. Butter on the bread and in the pan.
pam’s last blog post..And the Oscar Goes To…..Me!
That’s funny you mentioned the cheese sandwich uproar because I just noticed yesterday that Pete Wells was on Twitter. I don’t think I’ll follow him though! Grilled Cheese sandwiches are great, always fried in butter (but so not SB diet friendly, boo!)
Kalyn’s last blog post..Crockpot Recipe for Black Bean Stew with Roasted Red Pepper, Chicken, and Cilantro
That’s funny you mentioned the cheese sandwich uproar because I just noticed yesterday that Pete Wells was on Twitter. I don’t think I’ll follow him though! Grilled Cheese sandwiches are great, always fried in butter (but so not SB diet friendly, boo!)
Kalyn’s last blog post..Crockpot Recipe for Black Bean Stew with Roasted Red Pepper, Chicken, and Cilantro
That’s funny you mentioned the cheese sandwich uproar because I just noticed yesterday that Pete Wells was on Twitter. I don’t think I’ll follow him though! Grilled Cheese sandwiches are great, always fried in butter (but so not SB diet friendly, boo!)
Kalyn’s last blog post..Crockpot Recipe for Black Bean Stew with Roasted Red Pepper, Chicken, and Cilantro
Becky – funny you mentioned Canadian comfort food, my friend has lived there off and on through the years, she just moved back actually!
Nate – never thought of the granulated garlic! My bf is addicted to that stuff
YingYang – omg Anchor is so good isn’t it
lol… Mom makes those cheese sandwiches when she has teas sometimes… soooo good!
Francis – hehe I got quite a bit of passionate anti-microwave responses so a little relieved to know that I’m not alone on it
Stephen & Pam – I’m learning
Kalyn – OMG, that’s so funny that he is! Yeah, I might take a pass on following him as well
Becky – funny you mentioned Canadian comfort food, my friend has lived there off and on through the years, she just moved back actually!
Nate – never thought of the granulated garlic! My bf is addicted to that stuff
YingYang – omg Anchor is so good isn’t it
lol… Mom makes those cheese sandwiches when she has teas sometimes… soooo good!
Francis – hehe I got quite a bit of passionate anti-microwave responses so a little relieved to know that I’m not alone on it
Stephen & Pam – I’m learning
Kalyn – OMG, that’s so funny that he is! Yeah, I might take a pass on following him as well
Becky – funny you mentioned Canadian comfort food, my friend has lived there off and on through the years, she just moved back actually!
Nate – never thought of the granulated garlic! My bf is addicted to that stuff
YingYang – omg Anchor is so good isn’t it
lol… Mom makes those cheese sandwiches when she has teas sometimes… soooo good!
Francis – hehe I got quite a bit of passionate anti-microwave responses so a little relieved to know that I’m not alone on it
Stephen & Pam – I’m learning
Kalyn – OMG, that’s so funny that he is! Yeah, I might take a pass on following him as well
butter on the bread, pan fried, and dont burn it!
u can add ham and tomatos if u want or some other veggies, hotsauce etc
but the original bread and cheese is stuff of legend.
havarti
chedder
manchego
swiss
provolone
gruyer
or any mix of the above
or any shredded cheese blend
even brie or camembert
theres a fancy restaurant here in town that makes the “best grilled cheese sandwich”
i cant remember all the cheeses, blend… im pretty sure fontina is in there as is gruyer, romano, and perhaps provolone or mozzarella among others, maybe a little stilton
and the thing is pan fried in TRUFFLE oil
lol
i bet its pretty dang good
butter on the bread, pan fried, and dont burn it!
u can add ham and tomatos if u want or some other veggies, hotsauce etc
but the original bread and cheese is stuff of legend.
havarti
chedder
manchego
swiss
provolone
gruyer
or any mix of the above
or any shredded cheese blend
even brie or camembert
theres a fancy restaurant here in town that makes the “best grilled cheese sandwich”
i cant remember all the cheeses, blend… im pretty sure fontina is in there as is gruyer, romano, and perhaps provolone or mozzarella among others, maybe a little stilton
and the thing is pan fried in TRUFFLE oil
lol
i bet its pretty dang good
butter on the bread, pan fried, and dont burn it!
u can add ham and tomatos if u want or some other veggies, hotsauce etc
but the original bread and cheese is stuff of legend.
havarti
chedder
manchego
swiss
provolone
gruyer
or any mix of the above
or any shredded cheese blend
even brie or camembert
theres a fancy restaurant here in town that makes the “best grilled cheese sandwich”
i cant remember all the cheeses, blend… im pretty sure fontina is in there as is gruyer, romano, and perhaps provolone or mozzarella among others, maybe a little stilton
and the thing is pan fried in TRUFFLE oil
lol
i bet its pretty dang good
the welsh have a rarebit
never had it but it is a grilled cheese sandwich that is open faced and broiled
i think it needs to be a blend of cheese with some mustard and Worcestershire sauce as well as paprika
sometimes a sauce bechamel is blended in, sometimes other things.
the paste is then placed on slices of toast and broiled until hot and bubbly!
mmm i love a good rarebit
have had and made it a few times 
probably should post that sometime! 
the welsh have a rarebit
never had it but it is a grilled cheese sandwich that is open faced and broiled
i think it needs to be a blend of cheese with some mustard and Worcestershire sauce as well as paprika
sometimes a sauce bechamel is blended in, sometimes other things.
the paste is then placed on slices of toast and broiled until hot and bubbly!
mmm i love a good rarebit
have had and made it a few times 
probably should post that sometime! 
i used to melt cheese in a microwave all the time and eat it with hotsauce…. we thought it was healthy because we could brush off the released cheese oil with paper towels!
i used to melt cheese in a microwave all the time and eat it with hotsauce…. we thought it was healthy because we could brush off the released cheese oil with paper towels!
MMMMMMMMMMMMM Grilled cheese! I’m with Becky…a great comfort food here in Canada! Sharp cheddar on light rye is VERY tasty, although almost any cheese and bread combo you enjoy works. Over the years I have added some zest – sprinkle some garlic powder on the cheese, and also some bacon bits. Pan fry until crispy on the outside, and dip in some spicy ketchup. If it’s not available, add some pepper sauce to regular ketchup. And have a dill pickle on the side. ENJOY!
NOW I’M HUNGRY!
MMMMMMMMMMMMM Grilled cheese! I’m with Becky…a great comfort food here in Canada! Sharp cheddar on light rye is VERY tasty, although almost any cheese and bread combo you enjoy works. Over the years I have added some zest – sprinkle some garlic powder on the cheese, and also some bacon bits. Pan fry until crispy on the outside, and dip in some spicy ketchup. If it’s not available, add some pepper sauce to regular ketchup. And have a dill pickle on the side. ENJOY!
NOW I’M HUNGRY!