Grilled Cheese Festival Preview: a sneak peek at 12 of the gorgeously gooey sandwiches available at Grilled Cheese Fest
Grilled Cheese Festival Preview: a sneak peek at 12 of the gorgeously gooey sandwiches available at Grilled Cheese Fest
By Renée Suen | February 10, 2014
By Renée Suen | 02/10/2014
When cold weather strikes, there are few things more comforting than a gooey grilled cheese sandwich. In recognition of this basic truth, Toronto start-up Joylister —the same team behind last summer’s wildly popular poutine fest—is hosting Grilled Cheese Fest 2014, the city’s first festival dedicated entirely to the classic after-school snack. On February 28th, the 19-plus event will bring dozens of the city’s top sandwich talents to Roy Thompson Hall , where they’ll be griddling gourmet variations on the bread-cheese-bread equation. For $40, attendees get bottomless bowls of soup, three samples of Creemore beer and all-you-can-eat sandwiches stuffed with inventive ingredients—everything from barbequed pork to Nutella. (You can purchase tickets online here.) We trekked across the city to bring you a sneak preview of the glorious, golden lineup. Try not to lick the screen.
Toronto Grilled Cheese Fest, Roy Thompson Hall, 60 Simcoe St., torontogrilledcheesefest.com
258903 <strong>Cheesewerks: The Beijing</strong><br /><br />
Asiago, Chinese barbeque pork, scallions and hoisin sauce on herb-onion sourdough (Image: Renée Suen) Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-04.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival/slide/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-04/ toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-04 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
258906 <strong>Crème Fraiche Market: Organic Ontario Grilled Cheese</strong><br /><br />
Aged cheddar and caramelized onion chutney on olive and cilantro bread <br />
(Image: Renée Suen) Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-07.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival/slide/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-07/ toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-07 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
258905 <strong>Crème Fraiche Market: Sheep’s Cheddar and Raspberry</strong><br />Sheep’s cheddar and raspberry preserves on white sourdough (Image: Renée Suen) Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-06.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival/slide/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-06/ toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-06 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
258902 <strong>Artisano: Rustic Grilled Cheese</strong><br />Aged Ontario cheddar, Parmesan, Romano and Asiago on Italian bread with bacon (Image: Renée Suen) Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-03.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival/slide/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-03/ toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-03 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
258910 <strong>Melt: Tattooed Chicken</strong><br /><br />
Cheddar, mozzarella, herbed tomato, chicken and bacon on multigrain bread (Image: Renée Suen) Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-11.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival/slide/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-11/ toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-11 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
258907 <strong>Cut the Cheese: General Kim</strong><br /><br />
Sweet soy pork, kimchi, lotus chips, fontina and cilantro on Dimpflmeier’s light rye bread (Image: Renée Suen) Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-08.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival/slide/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-08/ toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-08 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
258904 <strong>The Construction Site: The Sheeva</strong><br /><br />
Panko-crusted mac ‘n’ cheese sandwich on egg loaf with Parmesan, aged cheddar, jalapeño havarti, provolone and edam (Image: Renée Suen) Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-05.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival/slide/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-05/ toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-05 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
258909 <strong>Leslieville Cheese Market: The Wafella</strong><br /><br />
Coconut gouda and hazelnut-chocolate spread on gluten-free waffles (Image: Renée Suen) Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-10.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival/slide/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-10/ toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-10 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
258908 <strong>Leslieville Cheese Market: The Hawaiian Steak</strong><br /><br />
Swiss cheese, Spam, coleslaw, scallions and Hungarian smoked-paprika spread on rye bread (Image: Renée Suen) Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-09.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival/slide/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-09/ toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-09 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
258911 <strong>Melt: Bacon-Avocado</strong><br /><br />
Cheddar, mozzarella, goat cheese, avocado, herbed tomato, onion, spinach, bacon and chipotle aioli on sourdough (Image: Renée Suen) Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-12.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival/slide/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-12/ toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-12 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
258900 <strong>Johnny Jackson: The Jackrabbit</strong><br /><br />
Triple-decker grilled cheese on thick-cut Texas white bread (Image: Joylister) Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-01.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival/slide/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-01/ toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-01 0 0
(Image: Joylister)
258901 <strong>Gorilla Cheese: The Lumberjack</strong><br /><br />
Bacon, cheddar, sliced Granny Smith apple and maple syrup on white bread (Image: Renée Suen) Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival Toronto Grilled Cheese Festival https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-02.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival/slide/toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-02/ toronto-grilled-cheese-festival-2014-02 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
FYI – Neither of the links to buy tickets work.
In case anyone wants to correct the article links: http://www.joylister.com/grilled-cheese-fest
:)
Do you think there will be gluten free bread there?
Is the venue anywhere near Roy Thomson Hall?
love this
grilled cheese
I think that the Pickle Barrel’s Lobster grilled cheese on multigrain bread is fantastic!
sold out :(
This was the worst ever! They oversold tickets, the $45 we paid to get in, wasn’t even worth what we were able to eat (I mean, how many ‘grilled cheese’ sandwiches can one eat?) I felt so sorry for all those people who were waiting outside for hours and didn’t even get a chance to eat! This was so poorly put together that I regret going. I won’t deny that the food was good, but I did not enjoy myself, nor did I enjoy the venue, and the fact that it was so packed with people, that you felt like a can of sardines. I hope Joylister learns from this! Not sure how they are going to recover….the first venue that they had was cancelled, and now this one, oversold, overpriced, and overall a mediocre experience.
Oh, and they ran out of food (soups too) at about 8pm. With the lineup still around the block.