Here at La Bottega di BelGioioso, we think every month should be dedicated to grilled cheese....not just the month of April. After all, who doesn’t love a good grilled cheese sandwich? Whether eating it on its’ own or dunking it into a bowl of creamy tomato soup, the Grilled Cheese Sandwich is the ultimate comfort food. Easy to make with endless combinations of cheesy fillings, it was probably one of the first things you learned how to cook.
While we can all agree that a grilled cheese can be AH-MAZING, how we get to that golden, crispy, gooey deliciousness can vary tremendously. Let’s take a look at the different components and some options.
The bread you use can be anything from a loaf of bread purchased at the grocery store to a grainy homemade bread baked to perfection in your own kitchen. Just remember, you don’t want a bread that’s sliced so thin that the cheese oozes through the bread's air bubbles nor so thick that the heat from your pan or griddle cannot melt the cheese.
The jury is out on what to spread on your bread to get it to brown. Some people like butter, others say mayonnaise does the trick. We like Mascarpone for a bit of extra creaminess. Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong.
Next…the cheese. Not just any cheese will do. You need one that melts with ease and delivers great flavor. Aged, crumbly cheeses, like Parmesan, will add flavor to your sandwich but won’t melt well. Go with something like Crescenza or Provolone for flavor and perfect meltability!
After that, what you add to your Grilled Cheese is up to you. Whether you like to add a tangy spread or preserves, cured meats or avocado, just make sure to cook it low and slow. Your patience will be rewarded with a sandwich that’s perfectly browned on the outside and warm and melted on the inside.
Gone are the days of making a grilled cheese by slapping processed American “cheese” between two pieces of squishy white bread. Our all natural cheeses are perfect for the most discerning palate. Whether you’re spicing things up with Peperoncino®, adding depth of flavor with Italico® or making it extra melty with Crescenza, La Bottega di BelGioioso takes the humble grilled cheese from “blah” to “brilliant”.