The International Grilled Cheese Challenge 
By Editor Gary Solomon               

The Oreo. 
 
No Ladies and Gents, I'm not referring to three people clutching each other in a fond embrace, but the crunchy chocolate vanilla cream filled treat!  You know, the cookie that dropped into cheesecake batter and baked invokes a lust that cannot be suppressed.  The ice cream sandwich.  A freshly baked delicious chocolate chip cookie with a scoop of melted Haagen Daz  dripping down sides.  

These are dessert sandwiches to die for and probably the most popular this century.  

Remember what Mamma said however, "No dessert until you have eaten the main course"?  So you ask, what food could be gratifying enough for us to plough through in order to get to the climatic confectioners ball?  

Worry no more.  We at know the perfect solution: The International Grilled Cheese Sandwich.                         

Plain American cheese is good but not very sexy.  Think of all the wonderful fillings you could create?  The fondest memories I have of the perfect marriage between bread and cheese are of Paris.  Romantic images of two people strolling down a street sharing an intimate conversation holding a crispy baguette and fresh cut flowers.  

I'll bet the baguette will be a carefully sliced and spread with a deliciously softened Camembert cheese.  A cold glass of Chablis will be the perfect accompaniment.  Now what could be sexier than that?  

The relationship between the French and cheese has evolved even further.  If you could walk into a Bistro you are sure to see on the menu board a croque-monsieur.  This is a piece of firm white bread layered with a thin slice of Black Forest ham and Gruyere cheese.  It is grilled with melted butter to perfection.  The sandwich is topped off with a creamy sauce and shredded Gruyere.  It is then broiled until the cheese begins to brown.  Each bite is sensuous, mouthwatering and rich.                            

A few favorite grilled cheese combinations of ours include Tangy English Stilton cheese, watercress and warm toasted walnut pieces on sourdough bread.  If you like food from the south of the boarder, try grilling Tortillas layered with fiery pepper jack cheese, hot pepper sauce and thinly sliced plump red tomatoes.  Grill this combination on the stove top and it is what Mexicans call a Quesedilla.  

Lastly, our all time favorite is to take three types of left over cheese morsels and create the Ultimate Three Cheese grilled cheese sandwich. Layered with crisp bacon or served alone it is a fantastic treat.