There’s something wonderful about grilled cheese. When I was a kid my mom made two different types. The first was a pan-fried version on white bread, filled with either Velveeta or American slices, and sometimes with ham lunch meat. The second was an oven broiled sandwich using the exact same “variety” of ingredients. There are days when I really miss the oven broiled ones… they were extra crisp, and mom could make enough for the whole family a big cookie sheet. That sandwich really screams “my childhood” in one simple food item.

As an adult, I started experimenting with grilled cheese a bit more. Could I use colby-jack? Yes! It just took a little longer for the cheese to melt. Could I use whole grain bread? Why, yes! Eventually, I discovered all the ingredients for my ultimate fantasy sandwich: a sourdough bread and provolone grilled cheese! Even ordering out at restaurants, nothing has yet to top my sourdough/provolone combo.

That’s not to say that you can’t get fantastic grilled cheese at restaurants, because they do have some killer choices. At the end of March, I tried one at Acadia Cafe. At just over $6, it was priced well for the size and came with a generous portion of fries. I chose to order mine with ham, and let me tell ya, it was no thin slice of lunch meat! Also, it was possibly the crunchiest grilled cheese I’d ever eaten, but somehow that improved it. Perhaps it’s because the sandwich was so flavorful, yet didn’t have the usual greasy feel to the outside of the bread. I highly recommend it!