The Fourth of July is like many of America's national holidays. Traditions recreated year after year and expected food items on the dinner table. The fourth is no different. Around this time of the year, we all crave grilled foods..or what some refer to as BBQ. This past fourth was no different. I joined Pookie up in Guerneville, CA. * www.russianriver.com * where she and her friends were staying in a house abutted up to a bend in the river on the evening of the fourth and got their just in time to join in on the potluck grill fest. Cheeseburgers, grilled chicken breasts, roasted baby veggies and Pookie's amazing bone-in marinated bird parts! I'll have her post the recipe, soon! This was definitely a fourth for the record books.
Since this blog is called "Tuesdays with Pookie", Pookie thought it best to discuss the actual day instead of our most wonderful of getaways at the River. Since Pookie was still at said river on Tuesday, Pookie was left to his own devices...and we all know that when left to his own device, Pookie gets up to no good.
Thanks to all the glory that is Facebook, Pookie was made aware of The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen in San Francisco's SoMa neighborhood * http://www.theamericansf.com/ * start of their morning service. Pookie slipped on some kicks and walked up the street to partake in a cheesy morning treat! *totes meant to do that*. First things first before we get into the goods. This barely month old eatery has been selling out of everything. Yes, everything since opening day. Having already experienced a near hour long wait in line to get a grilled cheese a few weeks ago, Pookie hooved it over at 9 in the morn to get a grilled cheese sandwich for breakfast.
Although, Pookie was nonplussed about his sandwich choice, he's willing to give it another go. Instead of going for the super sweet Sunday Brunch sandwich, he'll go with one of the savory concoctions. I totally understand the concept behind this sandwich. Stuffed french toast with a nod to NoLa cuisine. A little goes a long way in the execution of this sandwich and this morning's offering was a little heavy on the chutney, which taste house made. The chutney was paired with a chevre. A perfect pairing had the chutney not been so heavy handed. The bread is a Pain de Mie which is referred to as a perfect sandwich bread. Pookie wasn't able to find a recipe for Pain de Mie through our favorite miller, Bob's Red Mill * http://www.bobsredmill.com/ * A perfect crumb that can hold a good load...that sounded funny! At T.A.G.C.K., Pookie watched as the kitchen dunked thick slices of this bread into what he assumed to be a french toast mix of milk, eggs and warming spices. His only complaint would have been with this bread. If they were going for a play on french toast then make sure the bread gets a good crust. Of course, Pookie inhaled his sandwich as soon as he snapped a picture of it. He's actually wishing he had more of that brown sugar bourbon sauce as he's typing this. He's also wondering why he keeps referring to himself in the third person. That's neither here nor there. He digresses. Point of ramble? Lines never lie. The team behind the American Grilled Cheese Kitchen have something on their hands. A niche in a satuated market where one must always toe the line between gimmick and pure artistry to retain the masses. Although, today's line was no where near the size I was a part of during my first visit, I'm certain that this homage to all that is frommage has a long shelf life that will only mature with time. Like any good cheese, you must allow time for it to breathe, to come to room temp. before slicing, spooning or spearing into it and ensure that you supply to proper accompaniments for those about to enjoy. These folks do so and do so with a passion that's not found very often. These are people after your heart. Literally. All kidding aside, Pookie can't wait to take Pookie to this grilled cheese haven and watch her reaction as she takes her first bite into a sandwich made of passion.
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