Previously on The Blog About Nothing... in London!

  • stamaria Santa Maria
    Best Pizza in London
  • tapcoffee Tap Coffee
    Coffee time in Warren St
  • exmouthespresso Bean Review
    Exmouth Espresso Blend
  • kurobuta Kurobuta
    Japanese Tapas
  • oddonos Oddono's
    Gelato in Chiswick
  • smokehouse Smokehouse
    Mouthwatering Burgers and BBQ
  • firehouse No 197 Fire Station
    Complete disaster
  • irisandjune Iris & June
    Independent Coffee Shop in Victoria
  • coffeeguide The Not Official London Coffee Guide
    Humble take on the independent scene
  • dumdum Dum Dum Donutterie
    They don't have Cronuts but they do Cros
  • bonanza Bean Review
    Bonanza's Espresso Blend
  • moo Moo Cantina
    Lomito Time
  • chorbizarre Chor Bizarre
    Restaurant with personality
  • squaremilebelen Bean Review
    Square Mile's Belen Espresso
  • ottolenghi Ottolenghi
    Not as good as usual!
  • quantus Quantus
    European cuisine in Chiswick
  • pearlliang Pearl Liang
    About Time for a Chinese
Showing posts with label grilled cheese sandwich. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grilled cheese sandwich. Show all posts

Toastie Meltdown in London

A couple days back I finally had the chance to go to one of Young & Foodish events. This time the Toastie Meltdown, four competitors one prize The Iron Toastie Award, but the real winners were all the people that enjoyed a great event with nice beers from Camden Town Brewery, and excellent toasties from the competitors. 

Toastie Meltdown
The Participants
My first toastie of the night was Pump Street Bakery. The Tuffled Cheese Toastie, a day old sourdough with Fontina cheese, truffles, mushrooms, and hazelnuts. The winner of the night, great flavours, the cheese perfectly melted, a crunchy texture thanks to the hazelnuts, and their star the sourdough loaf. 

Pump Street Bakery Sourdough
The Winner Truffled Cheese Sandwich under bad light
Second one I had the unusual suspect and established Borough Market vendor Kappacasein. Bill Oglethorpe didn’t do any tweaks to his winning formula the Toasted Cheese Sandwich. Pollaine bread, 18 months aged Montgomery cheddar, onions, leaks, and garlic. Excellent flavour, the traditional recipe, my only complain the portion was extremely small, come on Bill you could have been a bit more generous. 

Borough Market's Kappacasein
The lovely but not so generous Toasted Cheese
Third toastie of the night was the Mishkin’s Reuben Melt. A seeded cream bun to create a nine layered toastie. It was the generous portion of the night, as the Mishkin’s team gave a whole sandwich to each punter, but still not NYC Katz's style where you get a tower of pastrami. Great flavour, definitely one of my favourites, the only downside I can think of was that the cheese wasn’t completely melted, they should kept it a couple more minutes. Sorry guys I would have voted for you if not for the cheese breakdown. 

Mishkin's not Kosher pins
The Reuben production
Reuben Melt
Final toastie of the night Fred Smith’s Patty Melt. Yes the London lord of the burgers created a toastie burger. Smashed beef patty, with melted Parmesan, and onions, al these in a caraway seeded loaf. My favourite of the night and as consequence my final vote. Great flavours, patty was perfectly cooked, juicy, the parmesan with the onions was amazing, and on top you had a chipotle sauce to dip your and double dip your toastie in it. 

Fred in Action
Patty Melt

For dessert Illy’s barista Marco Arrigo gave us a bicerin. Hot chocolate, espresso, and cream. It was beautiful, nice coffee, great chocolate, and the touch of the chestnut cream was spot on. 

Coffee Time
Faema Machine
Bicerin
Just a final note regarding the venue, The Camden Town Brewery has a nice and cozy bar basically below the overground rails. Good selection of beers I had a Hell’s Lager and then went for the Flight. Five caña size beers to choose. I went for a quite nice American style Pale Ale, a too light for me Hoppy nitro Stout called Ink, a fruity 7 Hop Lager, a nice Belgian Wit with roasted lemon and bergamot called Gentlerman’s Wit, and finally a light Kellerbier Pilsner called Unfiltered Hells. 

Beer Time
Need a Keg?
Flight
Great night, great toasties, great beers. 

The dipping with the Patty Melt reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Implant” 

Timmy: What are you doing?
George: What?
Timmy: Did you just double-dip that chip?
George: Excuse me?
Timmy: You double-dipped the chip!
George: Double-dipped? What are you talking about?
Timmy: You dipped the chip. You took a bite. And you dipped again
George: So?
Timmy: That's like putting your whole mouth right in the dip! From now on, when you take a chip, just take one dip and end it!
George: Well, I'm sorry, Timmy but I don't dip that way
Timmy: Oh, you don't, huh?
George: No. You dip the way you want to dip. I'll dip the way I want to dip
Timmy: Give me the chip! Give me the chip!

Camden Town Brewery
T: 020 7485 1671
Bar & Brewery
Area: Camden Town
Borough: Camden
Twitter: CamdenBrewery



In a Grilled Cheese State of Mind

I got to this article/slide show in Food and Wine magazine of the best grilled cheese in the US, by that time I was coming back to one of my favourite places in the world NYC and in the extensive list of places some of them were in three of the five boroughs. Consequence challenge accepted, that weekend as Billy Joel would say I’m on a Grilled Cheese State of Mind. But it wasn't that easy, cold day, terrible weather, snowing, it was like a mission impossible. 

Taking the Greyhound on the Hudson River line: Bouchon Bakery 

My first stop was in the Columbus Circus, Thomas Keller’s Time Warner location Bouchon Bakery, there is another one in Rockefeller Center. Time Warner location was perfect, amazing view in the second level of the Circus through the building huge windows. The place was packed, a couple people in front but got quite fast a sit in the small bar. Got a cappuccino and some bread and remembered what my grandpa used to do, dip the bread in the coffee, did it immediately, an instinct reaction, good memories and childhood flavours for a cold snowy day. 

The Bakery Cafe
The View
Coffee Time
Sugar?
The option there a classic grilled cheese with tomato soup. The soup was nice, good spices, warm and creamy, excellent for the day, sandwich looked home made, loved the buttery flavour in the toasted bread, it was spongy and equally toasted, nice cheese with excellent clean flavour, but as the sandwich was getting colder it was losing its qualities so eat fast! 

Bouchon Grilled Cheese
Bouchon Bakery 
T: +1 212 823 9366
Cafe / Bakery
Aprox Damage: $20 
Area: Midtown West
Borough: Manhattan
Twitter: BouchonBakeryTW
Bouchon Bakery on Urbanspoon


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I know what I’m needing and I don’t want to waste more time: Artisanal Fromagerie, Bistro and Wine Bar 

Second stop was Artisanal, I went my way to Park Avenue, to find Terrance Brennan French bistro, perfect Parisian atmosphere, the paper tablecloths, the music, the art deco decor, the interior was inviting to stay. I ordered a French hot chocolate which was outstanding, rich and not too bitter, the cup was huge, easy to share it, and a ginger and carrot juice, interesting combination a little bit watery, finally I decided about my sandwich. 

Artisanal
Tablecloth
The Bistro
Love when they bring the butter with the cover
Hot Chocolate
6 succulent les sandwiches, my option as I was in a fromangerie the Big Cheese, I wanted at that point more cheese. 4 cheeses in this creation, Fontina, Tallegio, Gruyere, and Emmenthaler, you can add tomato or bacon but I kept it traditional. Presentation was nice, came with crisp and they were spectacular, a rustic bread, equally toasted, nice buttery flavour not too overporwering, and the cheese combination was perfect, the flavour was spot on, amazingly the sandwich kept the crunchiness and flavour till the end. 


Big Cheese
Artisanal Fromagerie & Bistro
T: +1 212 725 8585
French Bistro
Aprox Damage: $30
Area: Murray Hill
Borough: Manhattan
Twitter: ArtisanalBistro
Artisanal Fromagerie & Bistro on Urbanspoon


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Now I need a little give and take, the New York Times, the Daily News: The Queens Kickshaw 

My path took me to this gothic and industrial cafe in Queens, Ben Sandler and Jennifer Lim opened the The Queens Kickshaw offering fancy grilled cheese sandwiches and craft beers recognising the food and cultural diversity of the area. Have to say the service wasn’t good when I arrived, the place was almost empty and the waitress kept my waiting for more than 10 minutes, then something changed, the place started to get full and the service improve completely. 


Kickshaw
Inside
First I ordered the FLIGHT, a 4oz sample of each of their four draught beers, Jonas Bronck Kingsbridge Kolcsh from NY, Weyerbacher Verboten from PA, Laughing Dog Alpha Dog from ID, and Dogfish Head Chicory Stout from De. The sampler was excellent, I love beer, so it was nice, the pale and citrus flavours from the Kolsch, the toasted malts from the pale ale, floral notes from the IPA and finally the coffee and strong flavour of the stout. 


Beer Time
Aerial View of the FLIGHT
You have 8 options, I asked my waitress for a recommendation, as I was hesitating between a couple, at the end went with her thoughts, the Fontina Val d’Aosta, Fontina cheese, marinated mushrooms, and basil pesto on an open face focaccia sandwich, green salad and toasted pine nuts on the side. The sandwich was amazing, the cheese, the mushrooms, the pesto, the flavour, open face, brilliant, give me more, not sure if qualifies as a grilled cheese but with that flavour who cares, I guess is grilled and has cheese right? Side salad good but want more grilled cheese! Though is quite good combination, this one became one of my favourite sandwiches period. 


Kickshaw Fontina

The Queens Kickshaw 
T: +1 718 777 0913
Sandwich & Craft Beers
Aprox Damage: $25 
Area: Astoria
Borough: Queens
Twitter: QueensKickshaw
The Queens Kickshaw on Urbanspoon


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Don’t care if it’s Chinatown or on Riverside: Beecher’s Handmade Cheese 

My final stop was Kurt Beecher Dammeier’s new shop in the Flatiron district, Beecher’s Handmade Cheese originally from Pice Plake Market in Seattle, opened in 2003, and eight years later Kurt took his award winning cheeses to the big apple. Love the place huge shop, a counter to order some coffee and food, a huge window to see the cheesemaker in action, and a wine cellar, cheese and wine OMG I’m in paradise! 


Beecher's
George, George, Cheese!
Cheesemakers
Love my stool
Five options, all handcrafted and grilled to order, featuring artisan cheese, and the bread supplied by Harlem Hot Bread Kitchen. Also, soup, mac & cheese, salads, etc. I wandered around the shop trying different samples of their signature cheeses, at the end ordered the flagship grilled cheese sandwich and a tomato soup. The sandwich comes with flagship, just jack, basil, tomato, and whole grain mustard. I sat near the cheesemaking kitchen to see the cheesemaker in action, the soup was nice, great flavour, nice condiments, the flagship was perfectly toasted, the cheese was excellent, perfectly melted, nice flavour. 


The Chosen One
Soup
Beecher's Flagship
Beecher's Handmade Cheese 
T: +1 212 466 3340
Cheese Shop / Cafe / Wine Cellar
Aprox Damage: $15 
Area: Flatiron
Borough: Manhattan
Twitter: BeechersNY
Beecher's New York Cafe on Urbanspoon


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Cheese reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Foundation” 

George: So uh, Wrath of Khan, huh?
Jerry: Yeah. Was that a beauty or what?
George: What was that line again? Something about finding your way in a shadow?
Jerry: No, no, no, it's "She's not really dead if we find a way to remember her"
George: That's it, that's the line, that destroyed my life
Jerry: Problem?
George: The Rosses have started up a foundation, Jerry, and I have to sit on the board of directors
Jerry: Hey, board of directors. Look at you!
George: Yeah! Look at me! I was free and clear! I was living the dream! I was stripped to the waist, eating a block of cheese the size of a car battery!
Jerry: Before we go any further, I'd just like to point out how disturbing it is that you equate eating a block of cheese with some sort of bachelor paradise.
George: Don't you see? I'm back in
Jerry: All because of Wrath of Khan?
George: Yes!
Jerry: Well, it was the best of those movies

The Mistery of Kappacasein

I went the other day with a friend to Borough market to introduce to him one of the best sandwich in London, not other than the grilled cheese on Poilane sourdough bread, Montgomery cheddar, Bermondsey hard pressed cheese, onions, leeks, and garlic, yes I suppose you guessed correctly, Kappacasein. What was my surprise they weren’t at their usual stall?

The Stall in Southbank Centre Real Food Festival

The Dark Side of the Cheese

Disappointed I almost forgot the incident until recently during the Thames Festival when I bumped into their stall at the Southbank centre. Yes they are there for the Real Food Market and I couldn’t resist the temptation to get one, and asked them what happened with the original spot. Well according to the staff apparently they had issues with the market and are in conversation to return to it, however if you go to their website they state that their new home is in Bermondsey, further investigation and inquisition to the staff revealed that they will be in the Southbank centre a couple more weeks, and will have an answer regarding Borough within the next weeks.

Raclette Magic

Toaster Magic

The Options

Hopefully the grilled cheese sandwich which is almost an institution for Londoners will come back to their usual whereabouts, if not we will have now to commute a little bit further than London Bridge to have that greatness flavour of sourdough and cheese toasted until perfection.

The Delight

Full of Flavour

This missing/lost situation reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Maid” when Kramer is lost downtown NYC.

Kramer: I think it's over. We had a big fight, she threw me out, I started walking, and now I'm lost downtown! I don't have any money. I don't recognize anybody. I miss home, and I don't even know how to get there.
Jerry: What's around you?
Kramer: I'm looking at Ray's Pizza. You know where that is?
Jerry: Is it Famous Ray's?
Kramer: No. It's Original Ray's.
Jerry: Famous Original Ray's?
Kramer: It's just Original, Jerry!
Jerry: Well, what street are you on?
Kramer: Hey, I'm on first and first. How can the same street intersect with itself? I must be at the nexus of the universe.
Jerry: Just wait there. I'll pick you up, and, Kramer, stay alive no matter what occurs, I will find you!
Kramer: Aah!

Kappacasein
Toasted Cheese Sandwich & Raclette
Area: Berdmondsey
Borough: Southwark


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