by Aaron Hunt

Created on: May 25, 2010

The grilled cheese sandwich is quite possibly the perfect food.   Whether it’s two slices of wonder bread and some American cheese or rustic Tuscan bread with gouda and arugala, there’s a grilled cheese sandwich for every taste.  It’s wonderful to fire up the grill and actually make your grilled cheese sandwich over a hot fire in the great outdoors.  But often the traditional buttered-bread on a frying pan method is equally enjoyable and less work.  Sometimes the moment just calls for simplistic preparation.  But simplistic preparation doesn’t necessarily limit one to simplistic flavors. 

An interesting take on the grilled cheese sandwich is the Pumpernickel Porter Sandwich.   It consists of three basic ingredients: pumpernickel bread, butter, and Cahill Porter Cheese.  Its construction is straightforward.  First, spread a liberal amount of butter on each slice of bread.  (You could use margarine, but in the words of Julia Child “why would you want to?”)   To make sure the crusts match up and prevent that glorious cheese from escaping out the sides, take two consecutive slices out of the loaf simultaneously and spread them like a book being opened with the pages facing away from you.  Butter the sides that are facing up and you’ll always get perfectly matched sandwiches.   Place one slice of bread on the unheated, un-greased frying pan.  Then take cheese sliced approximately one quarter of inch thick and cover the slice of bread in the pan.  Top with the second piece of bread – butter side up. 

Cooking the grilled cheese is also simple.  Turn the burner to approximately 50%, or medium.  Cook the sandwich on the first side until the butter starts to melt on the top slice.  This visual key will typically give you a nice, even browning on the first side.  Then flip the sandwich and cook until the cheese is almost completely melted.  Remove from the heat and place the sandwich on a plate.  Slice the sandwich in half and serve with a small spring salad and a few slices of tomato.  The flavor and acidity of the tomato are the perfect complement to the Pumpernickel Porter Sandwich, and the meal could be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  

Let’s be honest – there could be as many perfect grilled cheese sandwiches as there are people who eat them.   The Pumpernickel Porter is one great option, but there are countless other options.  There are so many great breads and cheese available today that one could spend several years making a different combination every single day.  The method to create the perfect grilled cheese doesn’t need to change.    Get out and experiment.  Your perfect grilled cheese sandwich is waiting to be found.          

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