Did you know that France is home to over 400 different varieties of cheese? In fact, some sources even put the number closer to 1000. That's a lot of fromage! I'm not a huge cheese connoisseur, especially when it comes to anything remotely smelly. I like my cheese smooth, creamy, and mild. My favorite French cheese is Port Salut, a semi-soft pasteurized cheese from Bretagne (Brittany.)
Well, I had an idea for a little mélange of cultural cuisines tonight. The kids and I were tired out from our back-to-school schedules, so I turned to my favorite classic American comfort food--grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. It's what my mom often made for me when I was a kid. Miam-miam! As I was preparing my sandwich with good 'ol squares of processed American cheese, I remembered the Port Salut sitting in my fridge. Hmmm . . . American cheese AND Port Salut! It was, indeed, the perfect French twist on a classic American sandwich.
I do hope I have not committed an unpardonable sin by pairing French fromage with processed American--and then relishing every bite. I remember a French acquaintance who was horrified by the mere existence of Cheez Whiz. But, in fact, my grilled fromage sandwich is pretty much symbolic of me . . . a classic American girl with a just touch of French!
Photo Credit: by cohdra at http://morguefile.com/archive/?display=136544
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