French Onion Soup Grilled Cheese Sandwich

A bowl of French onion soup emitting a fragrant aroma with hints of dry white wine (and perhaps cognac), big crouton, melting Gruyère and maybe (I say maybe for the 'purists') thyme and bay leaf is screaming grilled cheese sandwich. All the components are there (bread and cheese, clearly) and a French onion twist with its slow-cooked onions caramelized to a golden brown sweetness.

Grilled cheese is a simple American classic. But to make it taste outstanding, quality components are necessary. In addition to good cheese and bread, the texture must also be considered. A golden, buttery, crisp bread surface with soft interior and cheese melted through until gooey. Lackluster grilling and un-melted cheese are already signs of grilled cheese gone wrong. Personally, I prefer to butter toast the inside of the sandwich bread as well so the interior is not soggy, mushy, nor saggy.

This French onion soup grilled cheese sandwich was my first experiment. I took some freshly baked French baguette already at room temperature and cut it in half lengthwise. From a vat of French onion soup, I ladled a healthy helping of the soup onions onto the bread. Rich soup the onions carried soaked into the bread to add flavor, but the thick crust would protect the exterior from getting soggy. A layer of Gruyère was placed atop the onions. In a cast-iron pan over medium-low heat, a nob of butter was melted and the sandwich placed on top and weighted with another heavy pan until one side browned. The process was repeated for the other side so it the sandwich would be evenly crisped. Toasting the sandwich in the oven would also be effective.

The resulting grilled cheese sandwich was actually pretty good. The flavors of each aspect in the assemblage of a classic French onion soup were present: onion soup, crouton, and Gruyère. The bread was buttery and crisp on the outside and the Gruyère was completely melted. However, the bread on the inside was soggy from the soup. The interior sides would be best dry-toasted to counter this. It is also important to use a good French onion soup. The one used at this instance did not have as deep of a color as one would like and the onion flavor was less intense. Time and patience are necessary to draw out the sugars from the onions, which creates that lovely dark brown color.

Yeah, I am definitely going to make this again.

Devilicious and Food Truck Fabulousness

Summer is when Hillcrest gets ultra-fab and not just because of the incredible San Diego, but also to mark Pride weekend. Local San Diego food trucks gathered together at the San Diego LGBT Community Center for Food Truck Fabulousness, a benefit for the AIDS Walk in San Diego. It was also fitting that this particular event took place on the eve of SD Pride, a great kick-off for the weekend. Proceeds from Food Truck Fabulousness went to AIDS Walk and Run San Diego and visitors could also donate themselves at the free event. For those that have been hunting down a few of these trucks, this gathering made it a lot easier to find the vendors you want to try. I was after the butter poached lobster grilled cheese sandwich from the Devilicious Food Truck.

Devilicious Food Truck greeted everyone right at the entrance of The Center's parking lot and a few visitors were commenting on its participation in the Food Network's The Great Food Truck Race. Even at 18:00 there was a short queue. A short wait after paying US$9.00 for the butter poached lobster grilled cheese and $4.00 for truffled parmesan fries, the order came out very hot so you know it was made to order (at least at this hour). The butter poached lobster grilled cheese made with lobster, some sort of melted cheese, caramelized onion, oven-roasted roma tomatoes and herbs on sourdough.



The hot butter poached lobster grilled cheese sandwich felt decadently buttery upon first touch. It smelled buttery with the lingering aroma of lobster. It was definitely cheesy. The presence of the oven-roasted roma tomatoes was not very pronounced, blending in more with the caramelized onion. The lobster was cut into large chunks and not lost among the rest of the sandwich components to remind you that lobster is the co-starring with the cheese. The texture was definitely there, but the lobster flavor was a lot lighter than expected. It still was pretty tasty.

The truffled parmesan fries had black flecks from the truffles and covered with large shavings of parmesan. The parmesan cheese had a silkier texture and milder taste, which made me think that an aged Asiago was used instead as it takes on a flavor similar to parmigiano with age and is interchangeable with paremsan in some cuisines.

After looking at the Devilicious online menu, I am really curious about this asparagus grilled cheese sandwich made with goat cheese.

Here are a few more shots of Food Truck Fabulousness. I was actually wondering what an "Italian Lollipop" (offered by Mangia Mangia) was. The white chocolate macadamia nut cookies from Sweet Treats made a yummy dessert with big chunks of white chocolate and a chewy texture. Breaking it in big pieces was also quite easy.


From left to right: Sweet Treats cookie display, white chocolate macadamia nut cookie and whoopie pies from Sweet Treats, Mangia Mangia menu, Food Truck Fabulousness
Food truck gatherings are definitely a way to sample more in one place. One would be so lucky to have their favorite truck park regularly nearby.

Devilicious Food Truck. Check schedule for location details. San Diego, California. DeviliciousFoodTruck.com
Sweet Treats Truck. Check schedule for location details. San Diego, California. SweetTreatsTruck.com
Mangia Mangia Truck. Check schedule for location details. San Diego, California. MangiaMangiaMobile.com
San Diego LGBT Community Center. 3909 Centre Street, San Diego, CA. theCenterSD.org

B Real Banh Mi

Still in its soft-opening stage (so the sign says on the window) since November 2010, B Real is the Vietnamese sandwich sister shop to Pho Real across the street. Pho Real has already disappointed not once, but twice, but perhaps will still tempt a visit later in the year. In any case, B Real promises authentic Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches in a stylish and casual shop. Banh mi is commonly made with pickled sliced carrots, cucumber, cilantro, hot peppers, mayonnaise, pate, and meat all placed in a crusty, French-style baguette.

The B Real location is small, brightly lit, and clean from the light-colored wood and white paint. The walls are lined with mini-polaroid photos, Vietnamese coffee, and cans of condensed milk. There are bars and stools to eat at, though B Real also does take away.

There banh mi options are limited to grilled pork, grilled chicken, or combination meat. With the soft opening discount, the combination option is 36RMB (at a 20% discount), which is well-priced for a sandwich, especially in the French Concession. The person at the counter continually asked if I wanted a drink to go with the meal each time I changed my order. This happened about four times and the answer was always, "no." From the drink refrigerator, it looked like the options extended further than Coca-Cola to sodas made with lychee or guava.


The sandwich came out accompanied by a salad with thinly sliced vegetables doused in a mayonnaise dressing. The pickled vegetables gave the salad a bite, but otherwise was not very interesting. Before consuming the banh mi, B Real offers three signature house-made sauces that may be added to the sandwich: B1) Vietnamese Lime Honey Mayonnaise, B2) Vietnamese Garlic Sriracha Mayo, and B3) Home-made Passion fruit Hoisin Sauce. Out of the three, B2 was selected. The sandwich was served with a garnishing of cilantro and chopped red chilis as well as heavily seasoned prawn crackers. From the looks of the sandwich, the "combination meat" was more grilled pork with a few slices of ham. There was also a thin layer of pate, mayonnaise, pickled vegetables, and lettuce. The baguette was warm, crusty, and not hard. It looked good, but was lacking balance in its flavors. The pork was marinated and brought a sweet touch to the sandwich, but was not balanced out by the saltiness of the pate (or lack thereof). The pickled vegetables brought a nice acidity and fresh crunch, though the sandwich could have used a little more. Even with the chilis, there could have been more heat. Basically, the banh mi was primarily meat and bread and could have done with a tad more vegetable.


After the soft-opening period, B Real could be visited again as it works out the quirks in its sandwiches. Now, if only the 20% discount was available after its soft opening would B Real be a hot lunch spot.

B Real. 185 Fumin Lu (by Changle Lu), 富民路185号(近长乐路), Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

Kafe - A Taste of Healthy Living in Ubud

The fried foods that permeate my diet in Indonesia has left me craving something healthy and fresh. Ubud is the center of culture and arts in Bali, a beautiful area with rice fields scattered through the traditional Balinese architecture and temples. It seems small, but it is really made up of fourteen villages with the focal point being Monkey Forst Road, Jalan Hanoman, and Jalan Raya Ubud. At an elevation of around 600 meters, it is cooler than the coastal towns, though attracting more of the rain. The relaxing ambiance of Ubud and the convenience of its amenities along with the assortment of shops, restaurants, cultural events, and arts makes it a bit of an expat magnet in Bali. The Zen-like nature and affinity to preserve what is there makes Kafe a natural fit in Central Ubud. It is a comfortable place to lounge around and spend the whole afternoon reading, working, using their wifi, meeting with friends, and relaxing. Kafe promotes a healthy lifestyle with its environmentally conscious policies choosing not to serve drinks with plastic straws, advocating Bali Storm Brewery local beers, using organic products, as well as hosting community-oriented events. The major attraction at Kafe is its cafe culture and delicious, healthy vegetarian (and non-vegetarian) cuisine.


The food at Kafe is fresh and it does not make you feel guilty in the least for making your order (unless that is in excess). Some of the portions seemed unfairly small, especially compared to the price of a bigger meal you can get at a local warung. My first meal there was off the "Bowl Food" section of their menu (not listed online) which was a bowl of lentils and rice with broccoli and cauliflower florets flavored with curry spices, which made the dish a deep gold color. It came with a side of yogurt and the contrast between cool and warm made the eating experience very interesting. The Banana Spice Smoothie with hazelnut and nutmeg (21,000Rp) complimented the meal well, though the texture of the smoothie was very thin, giving the impression only a few spoonfuls of banana were actually in the smoothie. I also tried the Vegetarian Lumpia (23,000Rp) with tofu, ginger, spinach and mushrooms served with lemongrass dipping sauce. There were only 2 lumpias on the well-presented plate and each disappeared in a few bites. I liked the meaty quality the mushroom brought to the filling chock full of vegetables. The Grilled Vegetable and Feta Sandwich (37,000Rp) served warm and open-faced came with fried cassava chips. The feta cheese on this sandwich was generously scooped on top mixed with sun-dried tomato and basil. The vegetables in the sandwich were a tower of zucchini, aubergine, tomato, onion, and leafy greens that hid the small piece of country bread underneath. The vegetables were not too oily and cooked all the way through. This sandwich was best eaten with a knife and fork.

The food, drink, ambiance, and philosophy of Kafe is one to experience whilst invigorating and re-energizing the spirit and body in Ubud.

Kafe. Kafe, next to Tegun Galeri, at Jalan Hanoman # 44B, Padang Tegal, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. Tel. +62 361 7803802 or kafe@balispirit.com. www.balispirit.com/kafe.

Breakfast Sandwich at Boulange

Early morning walking through Hayes Valley in the conflicting state of breakfast or sandwich, I walked into La Boulange. From the street you could see several diners inside reading the morning paper or working remotely and people queueing for a breakfast order, coffee, or pastry to go. Relatively large numbers of patrons in one place is promising. It turns out that La Boulange is actually a chain bakery in San Francisco, but this fact did not seem to deter regular customers.

The menu on the wall had the perfect breakfast sandwich to appease cravings for an American breakfast and a sandwich. It was hard to choose when the healthier yogurt options and tempting The egg and cheese sandwich (US$7.00) comes with tomato and a choice of bacon, ham, smoked salmon, or avocado on crossaint, plain or multigrain country bread with fresh fruit. My order had bacon with multigrain bread. If only the order could have come with all the options because I would have liked to try them all (without paying extra)...at least the avocado. It was hearty, but the bread was a little on the dry side causing slight abrasion in my mouth whilst chewing. There was not enough fluffy egg to balance the dryness or the addition of avocado could have helped. As much as I enjoyed eating this breakfast with the residents of Hayes Valley, this is something to try to recreate at home.

La Boulange Bakery. 500 Hayes Street (by Octavia), San Francisco, CA 94102, United States.

The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen

Sitting in the baggage claim area of San Francisco International, a lone dismantled magazine covered with tidbits of the city's offerings beckons. Having done no prior research to arrival, The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen jumps out from the rest, not only by its reasonable price but that the restaurant specializes in unique versions of the snack and meal that defined more youthful years. It is thrilling that as restaurants become more specialized, its fare must correlate to its level of specialization in order to survive (or so I would like to think). As it turns out, I was going to a San Francisco Giants baseball game the following day during the lunch hour on a rare sunny day in the packed AT&T park that made you wonder if people really worked in this city or were just playing hooky.

A rare, unusually warm sunny day walking through San Francisco toward the Giants stadium passing through South Park admiring the charm and coveting a Public bicycle en route, I finally arrive at the front of the American Grilled Cheese Kitchen. The historical landmark building casts a shadow on its sidewalk dining area where airline pilots, tourists, Giants fans, and locals are lunching. There are even game day specials for drinks and organic iced tea. It is a little before noon and plenty of time to walk those few extra blocks to the stadium.

The walls are decorated in grilled cheese memorabilia, the menu on black chalkboard and has an overall focus on being local, sustainable, organic, environmentally aware, and green or all things representative of the ultimate San Franciscan emanating from the cozy decor of the interior. The line was short so before I was decided, I was already talking to the woman at the till. She tells me that the owner's favorite is the Black n' Blue - gorgonzola dolce, monterey jack, roast beef, arugula, balsamic onion marmalade, and sage butter. However, this is being replaced with the regular menu item Don Gondola of provolone, sopressatta salami, pesto, and garlic butter. She tells me the Jalapeño Popper (US$9.00) is her favorite. Though not a particular fan of jalapeños and definitely not one to seek them out, I oblige to her recommendation. At first, I hesitate being so long without cheese and wondering if a bite filled with too much ooey gooey dairy would result in something the opposite of digesting. She says she can tell the kitchen to go light on the cheese, but wanting the full experience, I opt not to. I am already thinking I should have ordered the Red, White, and Blue Plate Special (US$8.00 or +$1 for sandwiches over $8.00) to try their organic house-made tomato soup with crème fraîche and croutons. The house sodas (US$3.00) sounded really appealing, but all I wanted was a taste.

I sat at the counter overlooking the kitchen window where the sandwiches are apparently toasted - not grilled - and employees are quickly filling orders pouring soup or adding a couple luscious strawberries to each sandwich order. In a case of not-so-mistaken identity, it turns out Nate Pollak is one of the owners of this place, though looking somewhat different from his university years. Already impressed by the mere venture of grilled cheese, its obvious success is equally impressive. My jalapeño popper made of chèvre, monterey jack, applewood-smoked bacon, and apricot-jalapeño relish arrives in a basket lined with brown paper and the presentation is given a colorful splash from the plump California strawberry I plan to conclude my meal with. The hearty country wheat bread is perfectly toasted with a crisp layer of caramelization which also keeps the contents of the sandwich from oozing and making the bread fall apart. Each bite is incredible. There is a perfect balance of cheese, bread, bacon, and jalapeño with no one flavor or texture overwhelming the other. The jalapeño-apricot combination was surprising, balancing the heat with sweetness and bringing out the subtle nuttiness of the salty cheese. The cuts of applewood-smoked bacon were thick and gave the grilled cheese a meaty depth. Sad as it was to see the sandwich end, each bite was strategically chosen so the last bite would be the perfect one balancing all the flavors.

As I am eating, the line is growing out the door regardless of how fast these people are grilling / toasting, packing, and registering orders. Just hearing patrons order different sandwiches makes me extremely curious to dive more into the menu. Alas, another time. Already waiting in great anticipation for the next visit after crossing the Pacific in the unforeseeable future.

The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen. 1 South Park Avenue, Suite 103A, San Francisco, CA 94107, United States. Telephone: +1.415.243.0107. Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-3pm, Sat 9am-3pm. www.theamericansf.com

Cheese Shop Sandwich

After spending an extensive amount of time in Asia, cravings for a good sandwich start to magnify. Sandwiches are not showcased as a lunch-time meal (or any for that matter) so its presence and consistency is practically non-existent. The best sandwiches in Shanghai are at City Deli, better for ordering in than eating there. The turkey avocado is still outrageously priced for a standard sandwich at 68RMB (about US$10.00), but at least is large and incredibly filling.


Pleading to fellow Chowhounders on the message board, I was directed to the The Cheese Shop.

It was late in the afternoon. Promptly seated, I asked the server which sandwich he would recommend and told him to fix it however he would like it. He was surprised I let him have free range on my lunch, but seeing as he serves and sees numerous sandwiches in a day, he should know what is best. Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith when the idea of the ultimate sandwich has been marred by poorly constructed ones in Asia. I got the turkey avocado on wheat with salt and vinegar chips on the side. The sandwich was packed with slices of ripe, creamy avocado and deli turkey. The untoasted wheat bread could barely contain its contents. For my personal preference, a more hearty bread could have been chosen such as the ciabatta or thick rustic (an error on the diner's part). It was one big bite of sandwich goodness. The only thing it lacked was the crispy bacon I neglected to ask for to give the sandwich an extra crunch (or bites of the salt and vinegar chips could suffice). Yum. That avocado really topped it off.


My friend ordered the spinach and feta cheese omelette with a side of hash browns, which was generous with the spinach and feta. The hash browns were browned nicely, not so spectacular and the omelette good for what it was. The serving was large and filling, but perhaps these eyes have been used to Asian-sized portions for a while.


The cost of my sandwich in the States was about as much as its Shanghainese equivalent. Considering the current standards of living in the States compared to China, the City Deli sandwich is relatively overpriced however tasty it is. A return visit to the Cheese Shop is needed to try one of the Cheese Shop Grilled Cheese Sandwiches because it is, after all, a cheese shop.

The Cheese Shop. 627 4th Avenue. San Diego, CA 92101, United States. Telephone: +1.619.232.2303. Hours: Mon-Fri 7 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sat-Sun 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. www.cheeseshopdeli.com

Reason to Eat

A long morning of browsing the extensive shops and stalls at Camden Market calls for an immediate energy booster that will not weigh you down. What you need is Reason to Eat. Located a short walk down from the busier end of Camden High Street, the cafe offers a haven to collect your thoughts and review your purchases. It is basically a cafe offering the usual espresso selections and sandwiches, salads, soup and a few thoughtful baked goods.

The selection is simple, but incredibly fresh and made to order. The people working the counter were extremely helpful and eager to assist, offering an ease in the mindset of indecision. In addition to the specialty salads and sandwiches, you can also elect to design your own salad or sandwich for an incredibly cheap price (£3.75 and £2.75, respectively, at time of visit). The first visit called for the Classic Spinach Salad of baby spinach, wild mushrooms, chopped egg, bacon bits, tossed in mustard vinaigrette and accompanied by a big piece of fresh bread. The salad was prepared in a large tossing bowl right before your eyes scooping up generous portions from the protected case of salad fixings. It was tempting to order one of the cookies or bars, which would totally offset the purpose of ordering a delicious salad in the first place.


The dining area in the back was quiet with softly playing music, perfect to relax and enjoy the meal. The salad portion was quite large and extremely satisfying that the baguette that came with the salad was almost unnecessary. This place could easily turn into your daily lunch and breakfast spot with its cheap prices and healthy selection. Reason to Eat is a great offshoot to the increasingly growing trend toward health conscious eating in London.

Reason to Eat. 104 Candon High Street, London, NW1 OLU. www.reasontoeat.com

Double Chorizo

Among the numerous and crowded stalls in the Borough Market is the outdoor grill connected to Brindisa, the local purveyor of Spanish foods. During lunch hours, especially on Thursday and Friday with City workers migrating south of the river for a tasty and hassle-free lunch and even moreso on a sunny day, the Borough Market is a madhouse. People are milling about eager for samples or debating which stall will best satisfy their hunger. The decision already seems outright near impossible with each stall offering something almost entirely unique to the rest of the market at extremely high quality. But if your mood is for a simple taste of Spain and easy to get to, then perhaps the grill at Brindisa standing slightly on the outer rim of the market with a queue significantly shorter (or moving quicker) than those more inside the building will be the best choice. It is the minimalist and meaty chorizo roll attracting a crowd.


The queue at the stall moves quickly with the assembly line of grill, pay, and serve operating at full steam. The roll is toasted drizzled with olive oil before piled on with a single or double serving of chorizo, argula / rocket, and roasted red peppers and handed to you in a napkin. The combination is beautiful with the spicy richness of hot chorizo, peppery hints in arugula, and the sweetness of the red pepper. In addition to serving as a vessel, the roll is a great sponge to soak up any of the extra oils from the chorizo and peppers. As a mobile choice, you can easily enjoy the chorizo roll while browsing the other stalls at the market.

Brindisa at Borough Market. The Floral Hall, Stoney Street, Borough Market, London SE1