- Event: Grilled Cheese Sandwich Cook-off
- Where: Sinan Mansion, Shanghai, China
- Date: July 14th 2012
Grilled Cheese Sandwich Cook-off @ Sinan Mansions July 14th 2012 comprised of amateurs chefs show casing their personal spin one of one America’s most likable food. A total of 7 teams have set up a small tent side by side under a heated weather of 35 degrees Celsius competing for the crown. Fattoro breaks down each team and evaluates them on taste and creativity.
Grilled Cheese Sandwich Cook Off
Team LH123: Looks like your average grilled cheese sandwich at first glance, but there was so much more underneath. Team LH123 sandwich is comprised with America’s favorite ingredients: cream cheese, fried shallots, ham, cheese and pickles. It’s a recipe that you can’t go wrong with. What I especially like was the fried shallots and pickles which gave it some crunchiness that you don’t expect in a sandwich. My only criticism was that it lacked creativity. I don’t really see much of a “twist” from your ordinary grilled cheese sandwich, LH123 just played it too safe. Total Score 4/5
LH123
Spread the Bagel: The team that looks the least passionate in this event (going to assume it’s because they are cooking outside under a 35 degree’s humid weather) has grilled cheese and pesto sauce spread evenly on top of a slightly burnt baguette. Any bread with pesto sauce tastes great. That being said you got to put more effort than adding pesto sauce and cheese to call it your own “grilled cheese sandwich creation.” Total Score 3/5
Spread the Bagel
Sir Elly’s: You must be pretty loyal to name your team the restaurant you’re working at. Amateur chef of team Sir Elly’s works at Sir Elly’s of the peninsula. You would expect what his take on grilled cheese sandwich would be coming from a lavish haute cuisine restaurant: homemade brioche, caramelized onion, sundried tomatoes, mushrooms and Spanish ham. Sounds like a grilled cheese sandwich dressed in Dolce Gabanna while carrying a Louie Vuitton bag. The sandwich was packed with strong bold flavor, proving that quality ingredients do matter even on the most simple of food. You got to be careful with Spanish ham. Grilled cheese sandwich is already very salty in nature and adding in Spanish ham which ends up over killing it a little bit. Sir Elly’s take on grilled cheese became way too salty and would end up searching for a glass of water if we were to eat a whole sandwich. Total Score 4/5
Sir Elly’s Stand
Sir Elly’s
Besos de quesos: Has a lighter and a more refreshing take on the original rich and heavy American Grilled Cheese Sandwich. Besos took a step outside the norm by adding pear and onion which surprisingly worked well. A light meal has its advantages, but certainly isn’t what I’ll be looking for at a grilled cheese sandwich. Is this vegetarian? Total Score 3.5/5
Besos de Quesos
The Rooster: Turned the American all-time favorite to an Asian delight. I’m guessing the success is from the duck leg and teriyaki-like sauce. It was as little bit too sweet and we preferred it to stay American. Total Score 3.5/4
The Rooster
Last Note: Overall I was quite happy with the quality that came out of the five teams. However, I do expect a bit more creativity to be put in. I don’t know.. Perhaps I watch too much “Top Chef.” Was hoping for some deconstruction, molecular or a total remake, like a cheese-ham wrap of a crouton perhaps?
And the Winner goes to Team LH123
fattoro 