The Roaring Twenties brought more than Prohibition, zoot suits, and flapper dresses, grilled cheese sandwiches also became popular in America. Actually, bread and cheese have been served together since Ancient Times, as they are a tasty dream team. But the invention of the bread slicing machine and American cheese spurred the sandwich into becoming one of America’s most popular foods.
Popular during the Depression as a filling staple in American diets, soldiers in World War II cemented its universal appeal by demanding it in mess halls around the world.
- It was originally served as open-faced, but the extra slice was added during the Depression.
- It was originally dubbed the “Cheese Dream,” then later called the “cheese-filled” sandwich. During the 1960s, the moniker grilled cheese stuck.
- Of course, the humble grilled cheese can be augmented with many other foods: bacon, sliced tomato, apples, pears, avocados, cabbage, kale, and sliced veggies, among others, to make it more nutritious and varied.
- In the South, grilled cheese sandwiches are paired with tomato soup, a culinary powerhouse of complimentary flavors.
- The average grilled cheese is just under 300 calories.
- American, Provolone, cheddar, and mozzarella are the most popular cheeses used.
- The Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese Sandwich was sold on eBay in 2004 for $28,000. In 2006, Joey Chestnut ate 47 grilled cheese sandwiches to set a new world’s record.
Celebrate by making your own favorite concoction today!