Description
Chef Jimmy Alvarado runs On Time Catering on Martha’s Vineyard and also operates TigerHawk Sandwich Company. He survives on grilled cheese sandwiches eaten at midnight after cooking seven-course meals for clients, and he shared this gussied-up grilled cheese recipe with Bluedot. This grilled cheese uses a technique we haven’t seen too often: slathering a blend of Parmesan and butter on slices of Parmesan sourdough bread from a local farm to create a golden crust. Inside, you’ll find melting Eidolon cheese from the Grey Barn farm nearby. It’s an organic, bloomy, rind cheese (you can order that online, but you could also substitute a creamy cheese you find locally). Add locally grown tomatoes and basil, and a drizzle of local honey. Yum!
Ingredients
The butter
- 1 stick butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
The sandwich
- 2 slices sourdough bread
- 2 good-size slices of Grey Barn Eidolon cheese, or substitute a creamy-centered local cheese
- 1/2 heirloom tomato
- Fresh basil
- Local honey for drizzling
Instructions
- Make the Parmesan butter spread: In a bowl, whisk together butter and Parmesan cheese until well combined. Set aside.
- Layer two slices of sourdough bread with cheese, tomato, and basil. Spread Parmesan butter on one side of the sandwich.
- Cook in a skillet on medium heat for about 2 minutes, pressing down to form a crust.
- Spread Parmesan butter on the top side and flip. Press down again to create an even crust. Once the Eidolon cheese is melted, remove the sandwich from the heat and let it rest for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Slice the sandwich with a serrated knife and put it on a plate. Drizzle with Island Bee honey and garnish with chopped fresh basil.