The Official Grilled Cheese Blog

Live photos from the event!

2008-04-20T01:26:00.000-07:00

LuMi and Jessica

2008-04-19T17:45:00.000-07:00

There is no Team in Fuck You

2008-04-19T17:31:00.000-07:00

LA Times / Live-blogging from the Grilled Cheese Invitational!

2008-04-19T08:35:00.001-07:00

I'm testing how it is to send photos from my phone to this very blog. It appears to have worked.

This means one exciting thing: WE ARE GOING TO HAVE NEARLY-LIVE COVERAGE OF THE INVITATIONAL ON THIS BLOG! Hooray!

Helloooo Canadia!

2008-04-19T08:13:00.000-07:00

This map shows the rank of cheese enthusiasm in Canada.* As you can see, enthusiasm is highest in the East, and seems especially high in the Toronto region.

No wonder, because "As It Happens" just did a really neat podcast on the Grilled Cheese Invitational and Adam even made an orgasmic sammich during the program!

So helloooo Canadia! It's so good to see you here!

* This is absolutely false. I just liked the colors of the map.

brrr! dress warmly, everyone!

2008-04-19T07:37:00.000-07:00

I was just checkin' out the weather and it's gonna be cool tonight. Bring a jacket. :-)

I'll still be the one in the massive dress with the massive hair, but now I'll be wearing a massive furry jacket on top of it all. Come by and say hello!

IMPORTANT: The Grilled Cheese Invitational is FULL

2008-04-18T09:46:00.001-07:00

Seriously, folks. I'm sad to say that the response has been TOO overwhelming. If you're not on the list for the Grilled Cheese Invitational, chances are it's too late for you and yours. You could take your chances showing up, but if you choose to do this, I suggest you do it EARLY. As soon as we hit 800 people, you're going to be turned away.

Also, if you are driving, you MUST carpool. The parking lot is only going to be accepting carpools of people. People not carpooling will have to find parking elsewhere and walk. Won't that suck? Nobody walks in LA! So be sure to carpool.

Come see me personally by heading to the Press Table and/or looking for the girl in the most humongous dress there.

Holy Toledo!!

2008-04-15T22:18:00.000-07:00

The Toledo Free Press mentioned dis vereh blog! How neato, Toledo! It's nice to feel like others appreciate the cheeze like I do.

OMG! it's the grilled cheese show!

2008-04-14T21:05:00.001-07:00

http://www.theoryradio.org

Apparently, they love the cheese enough to do a whole show about it.

IMPORTANT: No Booze in the Grilled Cheese Invitational

2008-04-14T07:11:00.000-07:00

Hello Grilled Cheese enthusiasts!

I hope that everybody is getting good and ready to get knee deep in melted cheese next Saturday!

Unfortunately, I have some bad news for some of you...

Due to circumstances beyond our control, there will be NO ALCOHOL SERVED OR ALLOWED at this year's invitational.

We tried everything we could, but unfortunately we just couldn't line up a sponsor to give out alcohol products at the event and because of this year's location, there is no vending of food or drink allowed, so we can't offer it for sale either.

Know that we tried as much as we could to make it come together and know that for next year's GCI, this won't be a problem.

But fear not my faithful cheese heads, while there may not be alcohol served at the event itself, plans are afoot to remedy this situation with an after party of extraordinary magnitude.

Stay tuned for further details.

Thanks for keeping the faith and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

More information regarding the invitational will be released next week.

Yours in bread, butter, cheese and victory,

Tim Walker
Founder and Chief Instigator
Grilled Cheese Invitational

YumSugar: Get Thee to the Grilled Cheese Invitational!

2008-04-11T07:35:00.000-07:00

YumSugar had this to say about the National Grilled Cheese Invitational:

It sounds like it's going to be a fantastic cheese voyage. If I lived in the area, I would definitely find a way to attend. How about you? Are you going to go to the Grilled Cheese Invitational?

Hell yes, YumSugar! It's going to be such a fantastic cheese voyage that we should get to work on writing songs about it. mmm. cheese.

Missionary Still Rocks My Socks Off (it's a grilled cheese recipe!)

2008-04-10T14:33:00.000-07:00

This is a photo of the AMAZING missionary sandwich I made last night.

Recipe for the Ultimate Missionary Grilled Cheese Sandwich:
2 slices of white bread (Van De Camps enriched, if it matters)
approx 3/4 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese (land o' lakes, iim)
1 tbsp butter, applied liberally

Fry one side of the bread until it is starting to brown, lift the bread and throw a few grates of cheese under the pieces, and set the bread down on the frying cheese. This will create a crunchy fried cheese barrier to keep the oil of the cheese from seeping into the bread. DO NOT BURN THE CHEESE. Just fry it enough for a crunchy layer.

Turn over both sides of the bread so the crispy cheese is facing up. Sprinkle the remainder of the cheese on one of the slices, being very careless with cheese around the rest of the pan. Place the uncheezened slice crispy cheese down on the grated pile, effectively sandwiching the grated cheese in two protective barriers of fried cheese.

Flip the sandwich. Make sure you have even browning, not burning.

Press on the sandwich with your spatula. Make goo-goo eyes at the guy you're making the sandwich for.

Turn the sandwich and add more butter. The butter makes it yum-o-riffic.

Place the sandwich on a plate and cut diagonally. Serve with a strong amber beer such as a Newcastle or Blonde Bock (Gordon Bierch).

Expect wild, passionate sex afterwords.

Caught in the news!!

2008-04-09T20:35:00.000-07:00

Oh boy! Things are heating up in the news-o-sphere and the event-o-sphere when we're talking about this year's National Grilled Cheese Invitational!

Check this shit out:
The Grilled Cheese Invitational Is Back
We did mention that April is Grilled Cheese Month, right? In addition to Clementine's grilled cheese madness, the Grilled Cheese Invitational is pretty much the end-all-be-all of gooey, cheesy, melty competitions.
- Eater LA, "The Grilled Cheese Invitational is Back"

The Grilled Cheese Invitational Returns to Los Angeles
The Grilled Cheese Invitational returns to Los Angeles on Saturday, April 19th.Here are the rules and regulations. The deadline for registration is April 13th. now open.
- Laughing Squid, "The Grilled Cheese Invitational Returns to Los Angeles"

Gorge/cook: Grilled Cheese Invitational
Incorporating esoterica like truffle butter, rice, and macadamia nuts, this lactose-tolerant competition features four categories, from the white-bread-based Missionary Position to the anything-goes Karma Sutra. Obviously, this event is organized by a bunch of well-sexed ladies' men. [editor's note: oh hell yes.]
- Thrillist, "Gorge/cook: Grilled Cheese Invitational"

The National Grilled Cheese Invitational!!!!!!!!!!!
The Grilled Cheese Invitational on Upcoming

Where are your favorite places for Grilled Cheese?

2008-04-08T19:15:00.000-07:00

I don't usually go out for grilled cheese, instead preferring to cook it myself, but this whole Clementine thing kind of opened my mind a little...

Where do you go out for Grilled Cheese?

I've been to Honeydew in Burbank and was depressed by what they call a "grilled cheese." $8 for something that isn't even melty? I think not! But what's a girl to do?

No, seriously... what *is* a girl to do?

This Place Has My Vote!!!

2008-04-08T10:57:00.000-07:00

Another grilled cheese sandwich enthusiast, Clementine is celebrating National Grilled Cheese Month by having a "Melt the Vote" campaign. Get your cheese-lovin' booty over there and let the world know if you prefer yellow cheddar over white cheddar (though I like the taste of white better, I like the aesthetic of yellow).

I'm going to see about getting over there this coming Thursday and ordering up a Grilled Cheese Sandwich and a glass of white wine.

Thanks for the tip, JeremyPB (is that for Peanut Butter? If so, I question your loyalty).

I don't even know what to make of this: The Grilled Cheese Song

2008-04-08T10:53:00.000-07:00

These guys made a very heartfelt song about Grilled Cheese, but I have to say, if I had any ability to play a guitar, my song would be WAY more intense. WAY WAY WAY more intense.

IF YOU INTEND TO REGISTER FOR THE GRILLED CHEESE INVITATIONAL

2008-04-03T19:14:00.000-07:00

Holy shit, people. I can't tell you how important this is!

If you plan on registering for the Grilled Cheese Invitational, you really need to do it RIGHT THIS MINUTE by going to the Grilled Cheese Sandwich Registration and registering your sandwich IMMEDIATELY.

Last I talked to Tim, we were at 90+ registrants out of 100. So get your ass over there.

Planning on Going to the Grilled Cheese Invitational?

2008-04-03T19:12:00.001-07:00

You can show your enthusiasm by saying you'll go at Yelp. I've updated the event and it has all the current information.

Hooray for National Grilled Cheese Month!!

2008-04-01T09:40:00.000-07:00

It's with great excitement and fanfare that I announce that this month is NATIONAL GRILLED CHEESE MONTH! Yes, some company who is trying to sell you something somewhere declared that April is National Grilled Cheese Month.

Why don't you celebrate with a classic Missionary Sandwich right now? Just slap down some butter, some bread, some cheddar, and whip yourself up the ultimate in classic grilled cheese wonderments. See? It's every bit as good as you remember.

Remember This?

2008-03-31T19:31:00.000-07:00

A Grilled Cheese Mix... RAOR!

2008-03-28T19:12:00.006-07:00

A Grilled Cheese Time Was Had By All

2008-03-25T07:28:00.000-07:00

Last night, the masterminds behind the Grilled Cheese Invitational got together and celebrated the new Spoons category with Spoons sandwiches and wine... lots of wine. Turns out that white wine goes very well with olive bread and cave-aged gruyere cheese. Please make a note of it.

After literally two hours of arguing about what the categories meant and what the new category addition would mean for the other three categories, we have reached a consensus:

SPOONS IS ANY KIND OF BREAD (INCLUDING OLIVE BREAD) AND ANY KIND OF CHEESE (EXCEPT HEAD CHEESE, WHICH IS CHEESE IN NAME ONLY).

Please make a note of it. Anything baked into the bread does not count as an extra ingredient unless you go all crazy. There will be Grilled Cheese Officials on hand to determine if breads and ingredients are acceptable.

The Grilled Cheese Invitational is also seeking sponsorship for alcoholic beverages. If you know of any wine or beer company who would be interested in sponsoring the most popular grilled cheese event in the world, please email me at normal@hellonormal.com.

Stay tuned for all new rules on the Grilled Cheese Invitational site, as well as a fuller profile of the Spoons category right here on the only Official Grilled Cheese Blog. :-D

YouTube Grilled Cheese Bonanza

2008-03-22T19:37:00.000-07:00

This woman is creepy and weird. But informative! Who knew you could make a Grilled Cheese Sandwich in the microwave?

(um. this is an abomination)

Voila: we has press release

2008-03-21T08:18:00.001-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE...

March 26, 2008

"THE 1ST 6TH ANNUAL GRILLED CHEESE INVITATIONAL MELTS CHEESY GOODNESS ON LOS ANGELES, APRIL 19, 2008!"

(Los Angeles, CA) The 1st 6th Annual National Grilled Cheese Invitational have opened their electronic floodgates and are now accepting registration for competition in this year's Grilled Cheese Invitational.

"The 1st 6th Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational will be mankind's greatest achievement since the invention of fire!" says Tim Walker, the event's founder and organizer. "This year we will have more cheese than ever before. More competitors, more sammiches, more everything!"

At The Grilled Cheese Invitational, amateur and professional chefs compete side by side in four categories to determine just who is a grilled cheese champion. Each competitor must prepare at least 20 samples of their sammich for the judges.

Who are these judges? YOU! Yes, anyone with a passion for the cheese is welcome to attend this event and judge sammiches. Judging is easy and is done using standardized ballots and a patented, computerized database that scientifically tabulates the results to determine the winners. So put a sammich in your face and tell the world what you think with a bread-muffled cry! MPFF!

Due to the absolutely overwhelming response to last year's competition, the organizers have selected a NEW LOCATION for this year's invitational that will allow for more people to attend the cheesening. As with previous Invitationals, the location will not be announced until the week of the event. To find out the super-secret location the very second it is announced, send an email to grilledcheeseinvitational-subscribe@yahoogroups.com (NOTE: We will not Spam™ you, this is a cheese announce list only!).

New for 2008, the organizers of the GCI have created an additional category of competition, SPOONS, which will live between the Missionary category and the Kama Sutra category.

Sammiches must be entered into one of the following approved categories:
The Missionary Position: White bread, orange cheese (Cheddar or American) and butter or margarine only.
Spoons: Any kind of bread, any kind of butter and any kind of cheese (or combination of cheeses) but no additional ingredients.
The Kama Sutra: Any kind of bread, any kind of butter, and any kind of cheese (or blend of cheeses) plus additional ingredients.
The Honey Pot: Any kind of bread, any kind of butter, any kind of cheese (or blend of cheeses), and any additional ingredients, but a sandwich that is sweet in flavor, or would best be served as dessert.

Think YOU have what it takes to deliver a full body blow to the Nationals? Register your sammich today (space is limited):
http://www.grilledcheeseinvitational.com/upcomingcheese.html

As the clear winners are determined (again, automagic computer system), the Grilled Cheese Invitational will award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophies in each category. Imagine YOU going home with a one-of-a-kind gilded cheese trophy! In addition to the serious winners, two Spaz Awards will be awarded to the sammiches that are the biggest Spazzes, executive judge awards and mountains of grilled cheese for everybody!

On April 19th, we will part the mighty mountain of fresh loaves, wade knee-deep in the melted cheese and swim eye-high in the butterfat, but only a few, only the proud, the cheesiest, will earn the sacred right to hold a glimmering, golden trophy aloft for all to see and scream to the malignant heavens above: "I am a f@#king grilled cheese champion™!"

Got questions about the event? Of course you do! Send 'em to hotcheeseygoodness@grilledcheeseinvitational.com.

Yours in bread, butter cheese... and victory!

The Grilled Cheese Invitational

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Created by Tim Walker in 2003, the Grilled Cheese Invitational found its humble roots in a warehouse in downtown Los Angeles as a competition between friends. Since then, the Invitational has grown into a national movement dedicated to perfecting the art of grilled cheese.

For Media questions, contact:

Danielle Farrar
PO Box 7048
Burbank, CA 91510
danielle@grilledcheeseinvitational.com

The Popularity of Grilled Cheese Sandwiches in the Blogosphere

2008-03-21T08:13:00.000-07:00

In my hunting around for information about Grilled Cheese, I found this, which is the progressive mention of Grilled Cheese in the blogosphere.

How to Make a Brooklyn Style Grilled Cheese Sandwich

2008-03-17T18:13:00.000-07:00

This man uses more margarine than I've ever seen. How is it? You'll just have to find out!

(I love the toaster oven twist... I'll have to try this at home! NOTE: toaster ovens can not be used in competition)

The Kama Sutra Grilled Cheese Sandwich: Exotic and Experimental

2008-03-16T21:12:00.000-07:00

The most popular category of Grilled Cheese Sandwich at the Invitationals has always been the "Kama Sutra." This is the wild and daring Anything Goes category that you dream of in your strangest cheese fantasies.

This is where your swiss, romano and asiago, with sauteed mushrooms and asparagus, on fancy home-made sourdough bread --Perhaps you might even flirt with a little prosciutto, eh?-- sandwich belongs... fancy, crazy, delicious! As long as the internal ingredients are at least 60% cheese, it's a grilled cheese sandwich.

The Kama Sutra category is not only the most liberal, but also the most popular. So you must keep in mind that the competition is fierce and professional. If you intend to compete in this category, plan carefully and start training RIGHT AWAY. You could be up against as many as 50 professional chefs, so you better get it right!

No pressure. Just stay calm and start training immediately. Because this is serious as a heart attack... except not a cheese-induced heart attack, because everyone knows that cheese is good for you!

New Category: Spoons?

2008-03-16T19:37:00.001-07:00

You decide!

The Missionary Grilled Cheese Sandwich: The TRUE Chef's Category

2008-03-14T07:08:00.000-07:00

"I'm making a smoked cheddar sandwich on whole wheat bread. What category would I compete in?"

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!

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!

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.

Here are some tips:
1. Grating is great! I've found that grating your cheddar for your sandwich helps even melting, even in the center!
2. Butter and fry both sides 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)
3. Let it leak 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)
4. Remember Mom 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.
5. Even browning: difficult, but worth it This one takes practice... try to get a nice even brown on your white bread. It should be golden, not dirty.

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!

BREAKING NEWS: Cheese is better for you than butter!

2008-01-06T11:06:00.000-08:00

Check out this article on Cheese vs Butter in a European study

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!

THE ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD FOR YOU GRILLED CHEESE SAMMICH

INGREDIENTS
Light olive oil (just as good for you as olive oil, without all the olive flavor)
Sharp New York Cheddar Cheese, grated (it's grate!)
Whole wheat (locally baked, preferably) bread

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.

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).

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!

Sprinkle a litte more olive oil on the pan... we must keep the sammich lubricated!

Wait for a few seconds while the cheese kind of melts enough to flip the whole sammich.

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).

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.

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.

Brown until easy to lift.

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.

Cut diagonally and serve with tomato soup! mmmm! Delicious!!

More news about the OGCI

2007-10-29T18:47:00.000-07:00

MenuPages is dying of anticipation and cholesterol!

Going.com posted a ton of really awesome photos!

"I AM A FUCKING GRILLED CHEESE CHAMPION!"

2007-10-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

It's the moment you've all been waiting for!

The Winners of the First Oakland Grilled Cheese Invitational have been announced!

Hooray! Huzzah!

Grilled Cheese was the Winner!

2007-10-29T11:05:00.000-07:00

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!

Grilled cheese, the favorite American comfort food, received a huge boost, comforting hundreds and achieving new culinary heights.

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.

All in all, though, the success of the event was felt strongly through the Grilled Cheese world.

See the Guardian Blog's coverage of the event

See Marcy Mendelson's amazing photos

An Amazing Sammich Indeed

2007-10-25T10:53:00.001-07:00

grilledcheese
Originally uploaded by sugarfreak

Look at this sandwich! Just look at this motherfucking sandwich!!

THE SF CHRONICLE.

2007-10-25T10:30:00.001-07:00

Holy shit. we made the SF Chronicle

Today is the Day!

2007-10-25T06:54:00.000-07:00

Today is the DAY of the Oakland Grilled Cheese Invitational!

The ballots on plates are done.
The trophies with tiny fimo sammiches are done.
The DJ has awareness of the setup.
Shady has the cable for the super-amazing GrillCam.

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!

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!).

So if you're coming to this incredible event, please show up EARLY to make sure you can get in.

Hooray! Cheese!

The Oakland Grilled Cheese Invitational is POPULAR

2007-10-24T13:22:00.000-07:00

Laughing Squid: http://laughingsquid.com/1st-annual-oakland-regional-grilled-cheese-invitational/

Current.com: http://current.com/items/85347911_grilled_cheese_invitational

My Open Bar: http://sf.myopenbar.com/

Physical Challenge: http://physicalchallenge.blogspot.com/2007/10/sweet-sweet-taste-of-cheesy-triumph.html

Going.com: http://sanfrancisco.going.com/event-187504

Holy shit... people are really going wild for the cheesiness of the cheese-o-rama!

Laughing Squid [hearts] Grilled Cheese

2007-10-18T09:47:00.000-07:00

Read the article about the Oakland Grilled Cheese Invitational

eeee!

A word to the wise...

2007-10-17T18:29:00.000-07:00

Shredded fresh ginger overpowers a grilled cheese sandwich quite quickly. Take it from one who just tried it. Ouch!

The Honey Pot: make it for dessert tonight!

2007-10-17T17:32:00.000-07:00

Many 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!

2 slices wheat bread
1 slice Monterey Jack cheese
1 slice American cheese
1 tbsp. honey
Butter
Build sandwich; pour honey between slices of cheese. Spread butter on outside of bread slices. Grill until golden brown and cheese is melted.

Good Morning to Grilled Queso Mexicano!

2007-10-17T07:43:00.000-07:00

Wondering what to have for breakfast? How about a nice breakfast Grilled Cheese Sammich?

12 slices Jack cheese
4 large eggs, beaten
2 green onions, thinly sliced
4 Jalapeño peppers (if you're feeling saucy, try habenero!)
8 slices whole wheat bread
Butter, softened
Chop 4 cheese slices; combine with eggs and set aside.
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.
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.

Makes 4 deee-liciouso grilledo cheeso mexicano! mmmm!

The Official Missive from Cap'n Shady

2007-10-16T20:00:00.000-07:00

The Grilled Cheese Invitational is merely days away, are you prepared?

Have you started a fierce regimen of calisthenics and weight lifting?
Have you named your Sammich for easy identification during competition?
Have you prayed to the appropriate deity?
Have you visualized the trophy you will win for the perfect sammich?
Have you completed your reconnaissance to make sure that you will wipe away the competition?
Have you become intimate with the Grill and the Cheese in ways only the Bay Area would allow?
Have you selected the appropriate Grilling Outfit?

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.

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.

Grill that cheese!

+=Information about the event=+

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.

There will be three main categories of competition, with several prizes handed out for each category. The categories will be:

+=THE MISSIONARY POSITION=+
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:

1) Bread - Any Variety
2) Butter (or Margarine, or Oil or Mayonnaise or any other grilling liquid)
3) Cheese - Any Variety

+=THE KAMA SUTRA=+
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:

1) The sammich must be grilled.
2) The internal ingredients must be at least 60% cheese.

+= THE HONEY POT=+
A desert grilled cheese sammich.

For more rules and regulations please see the website.

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.

Judging for the event will be open to anyone who wants to sample grilled cheeses.

All those interested in participating are encouraged to bring guests.

Respectfully Submitted,

Cap'n Shady
Minister of Double Gloucester with Stilton

REGISTER YOUR SANDWICH

2007-10-16T18:45:00.000-07:00

I give you... Sandwich Registration:
http://www.grilledcheeseinvitational.com/oakland/index.html

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?

WILL YOU TAKE THE TITLE AS GRILLED CHEESE CHAMPION?

DO YOU HAVE THE GUTS?

If you think you do, get your fingers over to the cheese. Now.

Oaksterdam GCI : Bread, Butter, Cheese, Victory!

2007-10-10T22:16:00.000-07:00

HELLO GRILLED CHEESE ENTHUSIASTS!

It is with nearly-orgasmic pleasure that I tell you we have solidified the date for the Oaksterdam Grilled Cheese Invitational....

AND THAT DATE IS Thursday, October 25, 2007

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.

Location: Eli's Mile High Club: 32nd and Martin Luther King (near the MacArthur BART)
www.yelp.com/biz/-ufypXxoq57PjTLiRBnvGA

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.

For more information about the National Grilled Cheese Invitational, held annually in Los Angeles, Ca, visit www.grilledcheeseinvitational.com

Who will be the ULTIMATE grilled cheese champion? YOU DECIDE!

(we need volunteers... many volunteers)

Grilled Cheese and Me

2007-04-23T20:57:00.001-07:00

Grilled Cheese and Me
Originally uploaded by Monstrously Normal.

Therm and the Grilled Cheese

2007-04-23T20:56:00.001-07:00

Therm and the Grilled Cheese
Originally uploaded by Monstrously Normal.

Discovering the culture of cheese at Theory Labs in The Brewery art compound in Los Angeles, CA. These people are serious about cheese.

New Methods Of Cheese Grilling

2007-04-15T11:24:00.000-07:00

Chris sent me this from the Benny and Joon school of grilled cheese. 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.

Another Kind of Sandwich Has Been Perfected!!!

2007-04-13T09:48:00.000-07:00

In the eternal quest for the perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich, I must pay tribute to other successful perfections in sandwich technology: The Bacon Sandwich.

Great work, guys.

Last Night, Grilled Cheese Was Had

2007-04-12T16:24:00.000-07:00

In 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 NGCI.

National Grilled Cheese Invitational

2007-04-11T10:23:00.000-07:00

To get us started:
Grilled Cheese in the NY Times