Tartine Bakery, San Francisco
Husband-wife duo, Chad Robertson and Elisabeth Prueitt, had a mission for their bakery. According to the Tartine Bakery website, this duo strived to “bring bread with an old-soul into the lives of our friends in California.” With a wood-fired brick oven, Robertson baked bread whilst Prueitt made elegant pastries with a rustic edge using techniques that they had learned abroad. They use organic flour to bake top-notch bread. The bakery is especially known for its pressed sandwiches like the melty Gruyère (hard yellow Swiss cheese) grilled cheese with ham. Another fan favorite is the Humboldt Fog goat cheese on walnut bread. The Tartine Bakery has expanded and now has 4 locations in San Francisco, 1 location in Los Angeles, and 3 locations in Seoul!
South Philadelphia Tap Room, Philadelphia
This little dive bar offers a lot more than just drinks and refreshments. In fact, Chef Scott Schroeder has created a sandwich that definitely holds its own on the menu. To make the ultimate grilled cheese, the chef starts with local Bakers Street white bread and tops it with Lancaster County smoked cheddar, sharp provolone, and American cheese. Schroeder then coats the sandwich with garlic-herb butter and griddles it to perfection, or at least until it’s dark and crispy. The sandwich is served with a side of tomato soup for an extra pop of flavor!
Grater Grilled Cheese, San Diego
According to Grater Grilled Cheese, they “are melting the hearts of San Diegan’s who love a gourmet, chef-inspired twist on the grilled cheese sandwich.” Their goal is pretty simple — they strive to make every single sandwich the best one, ultimately “making the world a grater place.” Their Basic 5 Grilled Cheese has a grater 5-cheese blend and is served on artisan sourdough bread. It can be vamped up with things like ham, fried lobster, bacon, avocado, and more.
