Recipe Diaries Vol. 13 - Not your average cheese toastie

Unless you're a very strange person, you have probably eaten a cheese toastie before. In fact, I bet at the mention of those words, you're now craving one! Mmmm lovely, lovely carbs and fat... Anyway, now that the January detox is in full swing, let us tempt you to the life you want to be leading, after all you will only have this chance to get a January cheese toastie in this year!

Now R. makes a mean grilled cheese. You'll have to excuse me, I know you will be asking 'But what is a grilled cheese?' Well, it is just an American phrase for a cheese toastie (probably because they're too lazy to say the full phrase, I mean, it's not even grilled either so I'm honestly not sure). I have appeased R. however by mentioning it's American name, although henceforth I shall refer to it as a cheese toastie.

I, sadly, have no patience to make a cheese toastie unless I have a toastie maker to hand, I'm more of a cheese-on-toast kinda guy, a splash of Lea & Perrins and job done. Having filmed this video however, there is something to be said for an awesome toastie...(make sure you read to the end to find out where to get some of the best ones in London)

Cheese Toastie Recipe - Makes approximately 1 sandwich (if you get it right, unlike me)

2 Slices of cheap, white, Chorleywood process, thick cut, squidgy bread
Some unsalted Butter
The right amount of Cheese
Some Cheese Curds

1. You're loving that recipe aren't you, okay, step one, put your non-stick frying pan on medium heat - let it warm up.

2. Make your sammy, whichever way you like. Purists like R. stick with pale cheese products (American cheese if he could get his grubby little hands on it), my brother is a pure red Leicester man, I am quite partial to onions in mine and I'm sure some of you out there on January detox would substitute the white bread for Granary sourdough, and the cheese for Avocado.

3. Once you have your sandwich, test to see if the pan is hot but not too hot. R. demos this very aptly in the video above.

4. Once at a good heat (this might take some practice) add some butter, and let it come to a nice sizzle before putting your sandwich in, do not press it down or flip it prematurely. Turn the heat to low and then you have a waiting game on your hands.
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5. I'd probably make step 5 brewing a cuppa.
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6. Check your sandwich after 5-7 minutes, it should be nicely golden and starting to warm though. If this is the case remove it from the pan and add some more butter, if you need to leave it a little longer, leave it a little longer.

7. Flip the sandwich, returning it to the pan, drink your tea while waiting for it to finish its thing. Signs of success include but are not limited to caramelising cheese oozing out the side of your sandwich, a good even golden colour on both sides of your sandwich, a kitchen that smells like cheesy goodness and a rumbling stomach.

Finally, if you are in London and you fancy a grilled cheese but are more one for going out and having other people cook things for you, here are our top grilled cheese (cheese toastie) purveyors:

1. Grill my Cheese - Making awesome toasties out of a small stall at Leather Lane market, the Grill my Cheese girls have become renown for having some of the best, inventive and most importantly, ooziest sandwiches around. They are only open 12-2pm, Weds - Fri so get 'em while they're hot.
@Grill_my_cheese

2. The Cheese Truck - The cheese truck has been bumbling along, its engine probably getting clogged with delicious caramelized cheese along the way, since 2013. They have taken their un-missable yellow cheese truck around the country and even as far as Dubai in that time, but currently have a temporary pop up, thankfully closer to home at The King & Co. pub in Clapham. I think me and R. will be popping down there for our next 'pop-up planning meeting'.
@CheeseTruckLDN

​A.