The National Grilled Cheese Invitational!!!!!!!!!!

Good times at the GCI! I'm rooting for Two Knives again this year after they had some awesome ideas last year. Cool guys too. In the words of Monterey Jack (Chip n Dale's Rescue Rangers) - "cheeeheheheheheeeeeeeese!"

hehe... this sounds AWESOME!  I think I know what I'm having for lunch today! :)

With all the grilled cheese connoisseur's out there... what's your favorite way to have a grilled cheese?  Do you use condiments? Do you dip in soup?  Do you add anything interesting to it... like pickles? Truffle Oil?  Or do you just love the ooey-gooeyness of a plain grilled cheese? Just curious...

So, I think I qualify... my grilled cheese blog (needs updating) is here: http://www.hellonormal...

being a big fan of both breakfast and mexican food:
Good Morning to Grilled Queso Mexicano!
Wondering what to have for breakfast? How about a nice breakfast Grilled Cheese Sammich?

12 slices Jack cheese
4 large eggs, beaten
2 green onions, thinly sliced
4 Jalapeo peppers (if you're feeling saucy, try habenero!)
8 slices whole wheat bread
Butter, softened
Chop 4 cheese slices; combine with eggs and set aside.
Toss peppers and green onions in butter until onions are translucent. Add egg and cheese stuff; cook, stirring over medium heat until eggs are set. Remove and keep warm.
Butter all slices of bread on one side. Place 4 slices of bread, buttered side down, in clean skillet. Top each with one slice of cheese and an equal amount of scrambled eggs. Place one slice cheese over eggs on each sandwich; top with remaining bread, buttered side up. Cook over medium-low heat, turning once carefully, until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted.

Makes 4 deee-liciouso grilledo cheeso mexicano! mmmm!

does a cheese sandwich with more than 4 ingredients (variety of cheeses not withstanding) still count as just as "cheese" sandwich?

In the GCI, it counts as Kama Sutra. Personally, I'm a big fan of getting creative with the ingredients... but I'd be interested to hear what other people think.

Are there grilled cheese purists who want to weigh in?

I'm a grilled cheese with truffle oil girl myself.

I. Must. Go.

Truffle oil? hmm, I'll have to try that!

Bwaaaaaaaahahahahahahahhaaaaaa ... Y'all can just give me my award now.

I just updated my grilled cheese blog with information about the Missionary category: http://www.hellonormal... (soon to be http://www.grilledchee..., so don't bookmark http://Hellonormal.com quite yet.)

uh. actually, looks like http://www.grilledchee... is updated, so bookmark that one or watch the RSS for news of the event and tips on how to make the best sandwich!!

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I love cheese. I love bread. I love butter. I love fried. The grilled cheese sandwich was obviously a creation of god that floated down from heaven to answer my prayers. obviously.

i am so there!  count me in!

I just read LA Magazine, I guess they are holding it in Griffith Park this year

wha?  i get to taste and judge?  how does this all work?

I think I may need to go to this.

one word .....awesome.

I love grilled cheese - mouth is watering already!!

Margaret N. says:

wha?  i get to taste and judge?  how does this all work?
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You get in line, they hand you a contestant's entry, and you grade it. Then, you get in line and do it again. There's also samples from contestants (chat em up!) and some community grilled cheese. Bring some cash for beer/wine too.

Yep, Andrew, it's exactly like that (oh veteran of the cheese-fest). This year, you'll actually get to talk to the griller, who will explain the finer points of their particular sammich. Oh, and I think we got it worked out so there will be NO LINE this year (hopefully).

But most importantly... there will be GRILLED CHEESE SAMMICHES FOR ALL!!!

No line?!?! Holy shnikes!!

Honestly, though, talking to the folks making the sandwiches is the funnest part. I love how passionate and, umm, eccentric some people are, and how even though they're all different, they unite under bread, butter, and cheese! Cheese FTW!

Oh, no! You'll still be talking to the grillers! We've just eliminated the massive, winding line that was so difficult at the Oakland Grilled Cheese Regional Invitational! Every griller will have the opportunity to share their cooking techniques and grilled cheese philosophy with you before and during your sampling of their sammich.

oh yeah, and if you are planning on registering a sandwich, DO IT RIGHT NOW. We're about 4 slots from capacity. Seriously.

This is what Jesus misses most up there in heaven.

Sadly, it now looks like I'll be in San Diego that weekend. Curse terrible scheduling!

Calig, Jesus actually RSVPed for this, so I guess we'll see.

And Andrew!!! WTF??? Sandy Eggo? What could possibly be more important than the biggest cheesefest in the Greater Los Angeles Area?

I finally get to hang out with my friend who had a kid like 6 months ago :)

Dood, seriously, I'm pissed about missing GCI. I even put off a mini-high school reunion for cheese! I'm que-SO PISSED!

i would love to go, but the link to the website isn't working. so where exaclty is all of this going down??

I'm so in ... where is this thing? Too late to enter my sammich, but how does the judging business work?

oh damn! that sucks! I'll post photos

The event location won't be announced until a few days before, but you can get on the announce list: grilledcheeseinvitatio...

The website isn't workin'? That's weird. it seems to be up now. :-)

Grr... already had dinner plans with friends, though I may try to squeeze this in before or after.

In case you're subscribed to the Talk and not event updates:

Due to circumstances beyond our control, there will be NO ALCOHOL SERVED OR ALLOWED at this year's invitational.  

We tried everything we could, but unfortunately we just couldn't line up a sponsor to give out alcohol products at the event and because of this year's location, there is no vending of food or drink allowed, so we can't offer it for sale either.

Know that we tried as much as we could to make it come together and know that for next year's GCI, this won't be a problem.

*sigh* I'm so bummed. I love alcohol!!

I want to go..is anyone actually meeting up?

I dont know, i'd be willing to meet up

WTF??? They still don't know where this event is going to be held? Does ANYONE know? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

I *know*, I'm just not going to tell you. :-)

Ok, I'll tell you, but only if you subscribe to the announcement list.

how do i do that?

sorry, I should have included that: grilledcheeseinvitatio...

Forget my dinner plans. I'm not passing this event up.

The location for the annual Grilled Cheese Invitational is supposed to be under wraps until you get the secret subscriber email alert, but Metromix has it that the big cheesey, gooey party will be at the Crystal Springs picnic area in Griffith Park. The event (April 19, 5pm-9:30pm) is open to the public, but with this new caveat from CGI organizers: "Due to circumstances beyond our control, there will be no alcohol served or allowed at the Grilled Cheese Invitational." We applaud the open-air setting for what's sure to be a fiery, grilling frenzy, but no booze? Bummer.[ELA/Metromix]

dammit i have a prom at night. please tell me this is in glendale please!

Griffith Park!  woo-hoo!!!
Right next to my dog house...

are dogs even allowed?

The health department says "Nyet." All dogs will be turned away. Sorry... I wub my dog too.

boo....  : (

yeah. at least we're permitted at all. *wipes brow*

So, sad to announce that the event is now full. There was a huge capacity, but we've exceeded it. If you're on the mailing list, congratulations. If not, either cozy up to someone on the mailing list or make a grilled cheese sandwich in your home. Alone. Non-competitively.

yeah. I'm bummed too. Next year, we'll find a bigger venue!

Hold up.  

We needed to register just to attend this thing?  Guess I won't be going then... : (

WHAT?!!

it never said anything about need to register!

What does "registering" exactly entail? I'm not sure I registered so if it involves more than just responding "I'll be attending" on this Yelp site and requesting to receive event details, then I guess I won't be going either.

Ok. I'm going and even volunteering, but I just read on the grilledcheese blog that you MUST carpool. Anyone wanna go together?

I'm in North Hollywood.

there was a big segment on Channel 5 this morning; they showed all the winning contestants from last year and got to sample the sammiches . . . it looked delish . . . wow

Puka Dog, is this event named after you?

http://www.yelp.com/ev...

it states on their website that if we are not on the mailing list we can't go .. they are at full capacity for both competitors and attendees. BOOOOOOOO!!!!!

ahhh crap i was all excited for grilled cheese sammiches.  btw where is it gonna be located exactly?

Griffith park

More like, Grilled Cheese UNvitiational...

I am so sad I didn't know to rsvp ahead of time.

KIDS! I *told you* twice to subscribe to the list! It's not registration... only people cooking had to register.

Ah well... I love you anyways. Even if some of you are mean. (ok, the mean people can go straight to heck... you know who you are, miss "I can't read plain directions and I'm taking it out on you")  The location is Crystal Springs Picnic Area in Griffith Park as someone said a few days ago. The event starts at 5pm and we'll just start turning people away when it gets too full. The truth of space is that, unless you're in actual Space, it's limited. We can't hold everyone. Just ask my mom about my dead fraternal twin!

So if you come and you can't get in, you have been warned. Next year, we'll hold it in Space where space is unlimited and we can show laser light shows and play Dethklok. That'll rock. However, you will all have to wear space suits and carry ray guns and interpretive dance to Barbarella songs. And someone has *got to* bring a freakin' theramin. I love Space.

I totally missed the part about needing to be on a list even if you were just attending. Bah.

Ah well. The fact that this celebration of cheese and BREAD fell on the same night as PASSOVER kinda put the kabosh on it for me anyhoo. Maybe next year...

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so how was this event??  anyone??