Jarlsberg Cheese Sandwich

April 12: National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day

Highlander’s comfort food is grilled cheese sandwiches. So when we saw a scene in one of our favorite movies, “The Devil Wears Prada”, he just had to try making a Jarlsberg one at home. In that particular scene, Anne Hathaway’s character, Andrea, is complaining about her devil of a boss, Meryl Streep’s character, Miranda Priestly, to her chef boyfriend, Nate, played by Adrian Grenier. Andrea is so upset that she lost her appetite and did not want to eat the late-night grilled cheese sandwich he was preparing for her. Nate got mad that she was about to waste “$8 worth of Jarlesberg” in there! Analytical movie fans criticize that the price of cheese, even in New York, was overexaggerated. Plus, what kind of supposedly professional chef is Nate if he burnt the toast?!

Anyway, the movie was enjoyable to watch, especially for all the fun food references (although not so much about the eating disorders). When the movie reruns on TV, this Jarlesberg sandwich is something we want to make and eat along with the film scene. But it is also perfectly simple to try on National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day, too!

Recipe

Ingredients

  • Slices of bread
  • Jarlesberg cheese (no need to get $8 worth—it is too much cheese!)
  • Butter, room temperature (do not use margarine)

Directions

Butter one side of two pieces of bread. Slice the cheese thinly so it melts quickly and evenly. Place on the unbuttered side of one piece of bread. Sandwich it with the other piece of bread with buttered side up. Heat a nonstick skillet on medium heat. Place the buttered side of the bread down on the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes, being careful not to burn the bottom of the toast. Flip it over and cook 2-3 more minutes until the cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • In the movie, the sandwich was slightly charred. So we made ours like that, too. It was not really a coincidence, though!