tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40391309006234888962008-03-14T07:39:20.721-07:00NormalBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039130900623488896.post-73502146819379747372008-03-14T07:08:00.000-07:002008-03-14T07:39:20.753-07:00<b>"I'm making a smoked cheddar sandwich on whole wheat bread. What category would I compete in?"</b><br /><br />This is a question as old as the Invitational itself, my friends. If you're wondering which category you should enter when it comes to the Nationals (omg! April 19th!), make sure you pick the right category before you register... in fact, you may want to pick it before you start training!<br /><br />So, take the example sandwich above (the one people ask me all the time)... This would be a Kama Sutra sandwich. Why? Because the cheddar is smoked and the bread is not white. I know! You whine! You complain! But remember, just like in the position it was named for, the Missionary Grilled Cheese category requires standard ingredients. The only way to win is culinary expertise!<br /><br />This category requires only three ingredients: Cheddar (plain, not flavored) or American (like Kraft Singles), butter (or margarine, but not mayonnaise), and white bread (not potato white, but real white bread). Any old grilled cheese hack can whip out masterful ingredients and make a pretty good sandwich (maybe not prize-winning, but still good), but it takes the perfect preparation, browning, and presentation to win the Missionary category.<br /><br />Here are some tips:<br />1. <b>Grating is great!</b> I've found that grating your cheddar for your sandwich helps even melting, even in the center!<br />2. <b>Butter and fry both sides</b> I always butter both sides of the toast, let it set in the pan to get crispy and brown, and then flip, putting the cheese between the newly-fried, crispy fronts. Then grill the outside as usual. This makes the sandwich extra textured (and extra fatty, which is always a plus for Grilled Cheese<br />3. <b>Let it leak</b> I like a little crispy, leaked cheese around the edges of my sandwiches. I dated someone who thought this was an abomination (needless to say, that relationship didn't last long). Give it a try and see if it works for you! (If it doesn't, we've got no chance together, buddy)<br />4. <b>Remember Mom</b> Mom used to cut them in cute little triangles, remember? Presentation counts! Consider a traditional 45 degree cut, not a 90 degree one. The 90 degree is more modern, but I think most people still favor the 45.<br />5. <b>Even browning: difficult, but worth it</b> This one takes practice... try to get a nice even brown on your white bread. It should be golden, not dirty.<br /><br />You can't register for Nationals yet (I know, I know... the anticipation is killing us too!), but you CAN get started training for your perfect sandwich!Normaltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039130900623488896.post-81223843860953167212008-01-06T11:06:00.000-08:002008-01-06T11:29:56.659-08:00<a href="http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v59/n9/full/1602211a.html" target="_blank">Check out this article on Cheese vs Butter in a European study</a><br /><br />It turns out that cheddar cheese is less bad for you than butter, in terms of harmful LDL (cholesterol) levels. Do you know what that means? It means YOU get a new grilled cheese sammich recipe, specially designed not to contribute to high cholesterol!<br /><br /><h3>THE ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD FOR YOU GRILLED CHEESE SAMMICH</h3><br />INGREDIENTS<br />Light olive oil (just as good for you as olive oil, without all the olive flavor)<br />Sharp New York Cheddar Cheese, grated (it's grate!)<br />Whole wheat (locally baked, preferably) bread<br /><br />Lightly coat your frying pan with the light olive oil and place two slices of your delicious bread on the pan. Warm/toast one side of each slice of bread.<br /><br />Flip one slice of bread over so the toasted side is facing up and sprinkle some of your cheese on the top of the toasted side. Use ENOUGH cheese, but don't go overboard (don't worry, there's more cheese later).<br /><br />Now pick up the other half (that hasn't been flipped) and place the toasted side facing the grated cheese, thus making a sammich. mmm. But you're not done yet!<br /><br />Sprinkle a litte more olive oil on the pan... we must keep the sammich lubricated!<br /><br />Wait for a few seconds while the cheese kind of melts enough to flip the whole sammich.<br /><br />When the sammich is structurally sound, you can flip it over and brown the previously untoasted side. Make sure to keep enough oil on the pan so the untoasted bit isn't sitting on naked pan (hee hee).<br /><br />Once the bottom seems toasty, sprinkle a little cheese on the pan. I know. It sounds insane, but trust me. Now CAREFULLY place the toasty bottom (hee hee) on the now-melty cheese. MAKE SURE YOU DON'T JUST SLIDE THE BOTTOM OVER THE CHEESE, BECAUSE YOU WILL GET UNEVEN TOASTED CHEESE DISTRIBUTION. Really. I'm so serious.<br /><br />When the sammich lifts easily off the pan, pick up the sammich, sprinkle more cheese on the pan, and flip the sammich over, CAREFULLY placing the cheeseless side on your new, frying bed of cheese.<br /><br />Brown until easy to lift.<br /><br />Put the whole thing on a paper towel, since the browned cheese will have some extra oil to let go of... believe, me, this is the best thing you could do for the cheese.<br /><br />Cut diagonally and serve with tomato soup! mmmm! Delicious!!Normaltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039130900623488896.post-77782537193956496552007-10-29T18:47:00.000-07:002007-10-29T19:47:54.642-07:00<a href="http://blogs.menupages.com/sanfrancisco/2007/10/the_suspense_and_cholestoral_i.html">MenuPages is dying of anticipation and cholesterol!</a><br /><br /><a href="http://sanfrancisco.going.com/event-187504?type=album">Going.com posted a ton of really awesome photos!</a>Normaltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039130900623488896.post-10938572188427098622007-10-29T17:52:00.000-07:002007-10-29T19:38:55.392-07:00It's the moment you've all been waiting for!<br /><br /><h2><a href="http://grilledcheeseinvitational.com/oakland/oak07winners.html">The Winners of the First Oakland Grilled Cheese Invitational</a> have been announced!</h2><br /><br />Hooray! Huzzah!Normaltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039130900623488896.post-73966507870805841432007-10-29T11:05:00.000-07:002007-10-29T11:40:40.828-07:00<a href="http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/pixel_vision/2007/10/gci_was_the_big_cheese.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/pixel_vision/gc_normalandshady.jpg" align="left"></a> Well, the party's over and, though the official winner list hasn't yet been released, one thing is for sure: GRILLED CHEESE WAS THE WINNER!<br /><br />Grilled cheese, the favorite American comfort food, received a huge boost, comforting hundreds and achieving new culinary heights.<br /><br />The event had some initial setbacks, namely that the club owner didn't show up for an hour after the place was supposed to open and, as a result, we couldn't find power to set up the sound system. Hundreds had to stand outside, muttering in the cold, Oakland air while we bustled around trying to figure out how to solve the profound lack of tables, the lack of power, and the general chaos of the moment.<br /><br />All in all, though, the success of the event was felt strongly through the Grilled Cheese world.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/pixel_vision/2007/10/gci_was_the_big_cheese.html">See the Guardian Blog's coverage of the event</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mmendelson/sets/72157602726854662/">See Marcy Mendelson's amazing photos</a>Normaltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039130900623488896.post-47775651127884298812007-10-25T10:53:00.001-07:002007-10-25T10:53:57.804-07:00<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sugarfreak/402647504/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/130/402647504_103f9cc6a2_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sugarfreak/402647504/">grilledcheese</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/sugarfreak/">sugarfreak</a> </span></div>Look at this sandwich! Just look at this motherfucking sandwich!!<br clear="all" />Normaltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039130900623488896.post-75017597595923514612007-10-25T10:30:00.001-07:002007-10-25T10:30:47.027-07:00Holy shit. we made the <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/25/NSDTSU7HH.DTL&hw=grill+cheese&sn=001&sc=1000">SF Chronicle</a>Normaltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039130900623488896.post-44115312507780738062007-10-25T06:54:00.000-07:002007-10-25T07:01:28.092-07:00<img src="http://www.hellonormal.com/images/gci-flyer_sm.jpg"><br><br />Today is the DAY of the Oakland Grilled Cheese Invitational!<br /><br />The ballots on plates are done.<br />The trophies with tiny fimo sammiches are done.<br />The DJ has awareness of the setup.<br />Shady has the cable for the super-amazing GrillCam.<br /><br />It's almost unbeleivable, and yet it's TRUE: we are prepared for the insane quantity, quality, and quantitude of the hundreds of Grilled Cheese fans!<br /><br />Except, notably, our capacity is only 150 or so. Sam (the club owner) said he'd tell us when to cut off the door, so I'm thinking we may be able to get up to 200 people in... I hate to think we might have to turn anyone away from the cheesy awesomeness, but sometimes the sandwich crumbles that way (especially if you're using melba toast and feta... both so crumbly!).<br /><br />So if you're coming to this incredible event, please show up EARLY to make sure you can get in.<br /><br />Hooray! Cheese!Normaltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039130900623488896.post-25773146591927771702007-10-24T13:22:00.000-07:002007-10-24T14:09:13.578-07:00Laughing Squid: <a href="http://laughingsquid.com/1st-annual-oakland-regional-grilled-cheese-invitational/">http://laughingsquid.com/1st-annual-oakland-regional-grilled-cheese-invitational/</a><br /><br />Current.com: <a href="http://current.com/items/85347911_grilled_cheese_invitational">http://current.com/items/85347911_grilled_cheese_invitational</a><br /><br />My Open Bar: <a href="http://sf.myopenbar.com/">http://sf.myopenbar.com/</a><br /><br />Physical Challenge: <a href="http://physicalchallenge.blogspot.com/2007/10/sweet-sweet-taste-of-cheesy-triumph.html">http://physicalchallenge.blogspot.com/2007/10/sweet-sweet-taste-of-cheesy-triumph.html</a><br /><br />Going.com: <a href="http://sanfrancisco.going.com/event-187504">http://sanfrancisco.going.com/event-187504</a><br /><br />Holy shit... people are really going wild for the cheesiness of the cheese-o-rama!Normaltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039130900623488896.post-77340880765634504672007-10-18T09:47:00.000-07:002007-10-18T09:48:51.176-07:00<a href="http://laughingsquid.com/1st-annual-oakland-regional-grilled-cheese-invitational/">Read the article about the Oakland Grilled Cheese Invitational</a><br /><br />eeee!Normaltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039130900623488896.post-10823422813656535782007-10-17T18:29:00.000-07:002007-10-17T20:29:56.535-07:00Shredded fresh ginger overpowers a grilled cheese sandwich quite quickly. Take it from one who just tried it. Ouch!Normaltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039130900623488896.post-14651324836470715512007-10-17T17:32:00.000-07:002007-10-17T17:33:48.532-07:00Many of you have asked how one might make a honey pot sandwich (that is, a grilled cheese sandwich to be served for dessert). I found this recipe... no guarantees that it's good (though it looks promising). Give it a shot and see what you think!<br /> <br />2 slices wheat bread<br />1 slice Monterey Jack cheese<br />1 slice American cheese<br />1 tbsp. honey<br />Butter<br />Build sandwich; pour honey between slices of cheese. Spread butter on outside of bread slices. Grill until golden brown and cheese is melted.Normaltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039130900623488896.post-46363562966492415892007-10-17T07:43:00.000-07:002007-10-17T07:49:18.931-07:00Wondering what to have for breakfast? How about a nice breakfast Grilled Cheese Sammich?<br /><br />12 slices Jack cheese <br />4 large eggs, beaten <br />2 green onions, thinly sliced<br />4 Jalapeño peppers (if you're feeling saucy, try habenero!) <br />8 slices whole wheat bread <br />Butter, softened<br />Chop 4 cheese slices; combine with eggs and set aside.<br />Toss peppers and green onions in butter until onions are translucent. Add egg and cheese stuff; cook, stirring over medium heat until eggs are set. Remove and keep warm.<br />Butter all slices of bread on one side. Place 4 slices of bread, buttered side down, in clean skillet. Top each with one slice of cheese and an equal amount of scrambled eggs. Place one slice cheese over eggs on each sandwich; top with remaining bread, buttered side up. Cook over medium-low heat, turning once carefully, until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted.<br /><br />Makes 4 deee-liciouso grilledo cheeso mexicano! mmmm!Normaltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039130900623488896.post-2341630841199564052007-10-16T20:00:00.000-07:002007-10-17T08:01:06.505-07:00The Grilled Cheese Invitational is merely days away, are you prepared?<br /><br />Have you started a fierce regimen of calisthenics and weight lifting?<br />Have you named your Sammich for easy identification during competition?<br />Have you prayed to the appropriate deity?<br />Have you visualized the trophy you will win for the perfect sammich?<br />Have you completed your reconnaissance to make sure that you will wipe away the competition?<br />Have you become intimate with the Grill and the Cheese in ways only the Bay Area would allow?<br />Have you selected the appropriate Grilling Outfit?<br /><br />These are all questions you will need to answer if you plan on taking the prize. This is a serious competition and only the strong will achieve victory in The Grilled Cheese Invitational, with all the associated bragging rights available therein.<br /><br />It's time to stop messing around and get to work! You know you have it in you. Search your feelings, you know it be true.<br /><br />Grill that cheese!<br /><br />+=Information about the event=+<br /><br />The "Grilled Cheese Invitational" is an official competition with prizes awarded for each category. The competition will start at 8:00pm at Eli's Mile High Club in Oakland.<br /><br />There will be three main categories of competition, with several prizes handed out for each category. The categories will be:<br /><br />+=THE MISSIONARY POSITION=+<br />The Missionary position is the standard grilled cheese we have all come to know and love through these many moons. The ONLY ingredients will be as follows:<br /><br />1) Bread - Any Variety<br />2) Butter (or Margarine, or Oil or Mayonnaise or any other grilling liquid)<br />3) Cheese - Any Variety<br /><br />+=THE KAMA SUTRA=+<br />The Kama Sutra is any grilled cheese that contains any other ingredients than the above mentioned. The only additional rules to the Kama Sutra sammich are:<br /><br />1) The sammich must be grilled.<br />2) The internal ingredients must be at least 60% cheese.<br /><br /><br />+= THE HONEY POT=+<br />A desert grilled cheese sammich.<br /><br />For more rules and regulations please see the website.<br /><br />The Grilled Cheese Invitational will be providing at least 10 "Olympic-rated" cooking surfaces for the event but participants are required to bring the ingredients for the sammiches they are entering in the competition. Each competitor must be prepared to create 16 samples of sammiches, at least four sammiches cut into quarters, in order to be scored properly for the competition. Obviously, consistency will be a key element to sammich performance.<br /><br />Judging for the event will be open to anyone who wants to sample grilled cheeses. <br /><br />All those interested in participating are encouraged to bring guests.<br /><br /><br />Respectfully Submitted,<br /><br />Cap'n Shady<br />Minister of Double Gloucester with StiltonNormaltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039130900623488896.post-44728849005217954392007-10-16T18:45:00.000-07:002007-10-16T18:46:02.860-07:00I give you... Sandwich Registration:<br />http://www.grilledcheeseinvitational.com/oakland/index.html<br /><br />Note that there are only 20 slots available. Once you register, you CAN NOT BACK OUT... So think wisely, friends. Do you have what it takes to reign supreme over the grilled cheese craving minions? Do you have the Power of Grilling?<br /><br />WILL YOU TAKE THE TITLE AS GRILLED CHEESE CHAMPION?<br /><br />DO YOU HAVE THE GUTS?<br /><br />If you think you do, get your fingers over to the cheese. Now.Normaltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039130900623488896.post-11573643387347983772007-10-10T22:16:00.000-07:002007-10-10T22:18:31.373-07:00HELLO GRILLED CHEESE ENTHUSIASTS! <br /><br />It is with nearly-orgasmic pleasure that I tell you we have solidified the date for the Oaksterdam Grilled Cheese Invitational.... <br /><br />AND THAT DATE IS Thursday, October 25, 2007 <br /><br />As you're all aware, The Oakland Grilled Cheese Invitational is the first regional GCI of its kind. The winners of this regional will be offered places to compete in the National Invitational in Los Angeles. There will be trophies. There will be prizes. It will be amazing. <br /><br />Location: Eli's Mile High Club: 32nd and Martin Luther King (near the MacArthur BART) <br />www.yelp.com/biz/-ufypXxoq57PjTLiRBnvGA<br /><br />Tickets will be available in advance, since this event WILL SELL OUT. Details about pre-registration and tickets will be available soon, but do mark your calendar and let everyone you know to mark their respective calendars. <br /><br />For more information about the National Grilled Cheese Invitational, held annually in Los Angeles, Ca, visit www.grilledcheeseinvitational.com <br /><br />Who will be the ULTIMATE grilled cheese champion? YOU DECIDE! <br /><br />(we need volunteers... many volunteers)Normaltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039130900623488896.post-40961535713950509942007-04-23T20:57:00.001-07:002007-04-23T20:57:29.364-07:00<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/normaleigh/470765426/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/227/470765426_9319214485_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/normaleigh/470765426/">Grilled Cheese and Me</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/normaleigh/">Monstrously Normal</a>. </span></div><br clear="all" />Normaltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039130900623488896.post-73712606000280742702007-04-23T20:56:00.001-07:002007-04-23T20:56:34.144-07:00<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/normaleigh/470766452/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/179/470766452_035ac080e4_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/normaleigh/470766452/">Therm and the Grilled Cheese</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/normaleigh/">Monstrously Normal</a>. </span></div>Discovering the culture of cheese at Theory Labs in The Brewery art compound in Los Angeles, CA. These people are serious about cheese.<br clear="all" />Normaltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039130900623488896.post-68984900935071933842007-04-15T11:24:00.000-07:002007-04-15T11:28:09.747-07:00Chris sent me this from <a href="http://www.southphillyblocks.org/photos_essays/grilled_cheese/">the <i>Benny and Joon</i> school of grilled cheese</a>. I do encourage you to try this at home, though I don't think I personally want to destroy my iron with cheese and butter.Normaltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039130900623488896.post-91454893918626775222007-04-13T09:48:00.000-07:002007-04-13T09:53:02.033-07:00In the eternal quest for the perfect <a href="http://www.grilledcheeseinvitational.com">Grilled Cheese Sandwich</a>, I must pay tribute to other successful perfections in sandwich technology: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/11/world/europe/11bacon.html?ex=1333944000&en=1425f074c56d2db8&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss">The Bacon Sandwich</a>.<br /><br />Great work, guys.Normaltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039130900623488896.post-30492393524657491332007-04-12T16:24:00.000-07:002007-04-12T16:57:42.352-07:00In the spirit of the New York Times article posted yesterday, Chris, Splat, Andrea and I had grilled cheese sandwiches and light salad for dinner last night. It was so delicious and really brought me back to the ol' times of training for the <a href="http://www.grilledcheeseinvitational.com">NGCI</a>.Normaltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039130900623488896.post-7064753717988417782007-04-11T10:23:00.000-07:002007-04-11T10:25:20.435-07:00To get us started:<br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/11/dining/11appe.html?_r=1&ref=dining?8dpc&oref=login">Grilled Cheese in the NY Times</a>Normal