My most recent piece for SavvyMom is about a neat little cheese-shop-slash-eatery that opened up in Old Ottawa South called Serious Cheese. The store is a hoot. There is a fibreglass cow in the middle of the store, lots of bread and cheese (obviously), and helpful signs that read things like “ten cheeses you need to try before you die.”
And they serve up a great grilled cheese sandwich.
Growing up with Eastern Euro parents meant that certain Canadian childhood staples eluded me and/or passed me by entirely. Dr. Seuss, Kool-aid, and grilled cheese all fall within this category.
I remember having a grilled cheese sandwich at a neighbor’s house and coming home to ask my mother to make me one just like it. She put a slice of processed cheese between two slices of toasted white bread and gave it to me to try, having omitting a few key steps along the way… like frying it in butter.
When I started dating Mark he showed me the way to a true Canadian Grilled Cheese (at least his way):
- Take two slices of bread and thoroughly butter the outsides (I was wrongly just adding the butter to the frying pan.) The buttered sides go pan-side down.
- Tuck slices of cheddar cheese between bread
- Fry until golden brown
- Cut on the diagonal (a MUST)
- Serve with sweet mixed pickles
It had to be this way. There was no other way. Any other way was Just Plain Wrong.
Personally, I like to dip my grilled cheese in ketchup. Some are horrified by this idea.
I also like my grilled cheese with very old cheddar cheese and sliced apples on rye. In my view, things like ham and turkey tarnish the Grilled Cheese Experience.
What is your perfect grilled cheese? Please share your recipes!
