Making a sandwich of bread and cheese does not take much forethought, but deciding to grill the sandwich until the cheese melts within is the stuff of dreams.
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As many of you may already know, I am married to a chef. Thank goodness, because my culinary skills are minimal. I like to think that is because I never needed to develop those skills given my fortunate circumstances. However, I am the master of french toast and grilled cheese sandwiches!
Today is National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day as opposed to National Grilled Cheese Day which is celebrated on September 3rd. So in honor of this most delicious holiday, I decided to do a little grilled cheese research.
The grilled cheese sandwich is one of America’s top comfort foods. Its humble beginnings reach back to the Great Depression when it would be eaten open-faced. Eventually, people began putting a top slice of bread because it was cheap and filling and helped sustain workers.
Two men had a huge impact on the grilled cheese sandwich – Otto Frederick Rohwedder and James L. Kraft. Any guesses why? Well, Rohwedder, of Davenport, Iowa, invented the sliced bread machine in 1927, and by 1933 sliced bread became more popular than unsliced. Kraft obtained a patent in 1916 to make processed cheese which became known as “American Cheese.” And the rest, as they say, is history. Although the term, “grilled cheese sandwich” did not start appearing on menus until the 1960s before that it was known as “toasted cheese.”
Are you a purist or do you have a favorite twist on the grilled cheese sandwich? My favorite is swiss cheese and bacon on rye, but I haven’t met a grilled cheese sandwich I didn’t like yet! Add a bowl of creamy tomato soup, and I am in heaven! Feel free to leave your recipe ideas in the comments!
Bon Appetit!
Rita DiCarne 
Aha, I knew about this day thanks to being with my grandson yesterday and he announced it was grilled cheese day (I can’t remember if he added the sandwich bit!) Researching facts like this is one of his hobbies. Thanks for the historical facts and we usually add tomato slices under the cheese when we grill it.
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My husband likes his with tomatoes too!
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I love this post. I also love grilled cheese, and just when I was thinking of tomato soup to go with it, you mentioned it yourself. Now I’m hungry!
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Oh, I love these historical fact you always ferret out. So interesting. I with you, Rita, when it comes to grilled cheese. We recently bought a new Foreman grill. Not only is it easy to use, but the grilled cheese sandwiches come out perfectly. Perhaps we’ll celebrate with grilled cheese for dinner tonight.
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Grilled cheese is definitely a comfort food here too! Guess what I am going to make for dinner?
Fun little fact, one of the churches by one of our local high schools makes grilled cheese sandwiches for any student one day a week. So fun!
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I love that the church makes sandwiches for the kids!
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I know! The kids remember it and talk about it after graduation.
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Small kindnesses can make a huge difference.
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I love a good grilled cheese sandwich, although I won’t order it out. I’m a little fussy! It has to be my own! Lol! It’s all about the cheese and the bread. However, I do like grilled cheese on rye bread!
My grandchildren always ask for Nonie’s famous grilled cheese! It’s not really famous, but I use butter on the bread that grills it up so nice. Where their mother just greases the pan! Ugg! No fun!!
Thanks Rita for this food for thought!
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I butter the bread on both sides too! I read that if you use mayonaisse instead of butter it gets really crispy. I haven’t tried it though.
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Love a grilled cheese sandwich. My favorite is cheddar on sourdough served with Tomato soup. Yum!
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yum…sourdough bread!
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Oh, I love this slice! So interesting! I love celebrating little holidays like this! Guess what we will be having for dinner tonight!?
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What a fun post! I was a finicky eater as a child and can remember going to Chinese restaurants with my mother and Grannie and asking the waiter for a grilled cheese. I must tell my granddaughter to have one in honor of the day!
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