National Grilled Cheese Month

Just in case you have missed out on the fun thus far, April is National Grilled Cheese Month. Food historians typically agree that cooked bread and cheese combinations (in various forms, tastes and textures) were ancient foods that were prepared across the continents and in many cultures around the world. The earliest recipes that resemble grilled cheese are found in Ancient Roman cookbooks.

Nobody knows exactly who invented the American food trends version of the grilled cheese. There is culinary evidence that the modern American grilled cheese sandwich came to fruition sometime in the 1920’s.

Many restaurants and Food Retailers around the United States have had a ball celebrating the grilled cheese sandwich this month. Some restaurants have even featured different sandwiches each day for the entire month of April. There have been many contests running all month from coast to coast. Chefs have been finding new ways of creating grilled cheese masterpieces that have been a delight to eat. Some restaurants have even called in guest chefs to create special sandwiches for their customers. Kraft Foods launched a promotion on their website where people who submit a Kraft Singles testimonial will be entered into a contest to win free cheese coupons.
Creating a perfect grilled cheese sandwich is not limited to using sliced American cheese. Chefs have gone all out in their cheese choices. Fontina, Gruyère, Crotonese, Cacio, Grana and of course Swiss, Jack and Cheddar versions have graced the grills. Add in some specialty breads, tomatoes, avocados, bacon, black trumpet mushrooms, and even white truffle fondue (to name only a few) and you have some smashingly good flavor combinations.

Many chefs have traveled near and far to compete in the 7th annual Los Angeles Grilled Cheese Invitational just this past weekend. According to their website “The Grilled Cheese Invitational (GCI) is the largest, craziest, and most exciting Grilled Cheese cooking contest in the country and is the best thing to happen to sliced cheese since sliced bread! The GCI promotes an almost scary pursuit of perfection in a Grilled Cheese Sammich and allows for amateur and professional chefs to compete side-by-side in the hopes of becoming a true Grilled Cheese Champion.”

Did your restaurant come up with a new and delectable grilled cheese sandwich this year? Did you have fun promotions running for your customers? An experienced food service consultant can help you find the perfect sandwiches for your restaurant.