My life is now complete. Two of my favorite things combined. Grilled cheese and the bloody caesar. This wasn't even my idea. How could it have not been? I was out for dinner last weekend with a friend, and while we were discussing the merits of the bloody caesar versus the bloody mary, he ever so casually slipped it into the conversation that a few weeks back he ordered a Bloody mary and it was served with a garnish of grilled cheese. On the glass. I immediately freaked out, so mad that I had not thought of this idea years earlier.
I've got to tell you, it's genius. Normally I like to eat my grilled cheese with a side of tomato soup. A pickle. Maybe some Granny Smith apple slices thrown in. The flavor combination of all of these ingredients are incredible. The bloody caesar is just an extension of the tomato soup, and even a little better, because there's vodka involved. A grilled cheese, a pickle, a celery stalk, and a spicy savory afternoon cocktail drink is how I want to spend all of my days.
I debated whether to use the bloody mary or the caesar as my drink of choice to showcase this glorious grilled cheese. In the end I went with the caesar, because I felt it important to give homage to my Canadian roots. The difference between the two drinks is in the juice. The bloody mary uses tomato juice, and the caesar, tomato/clam juice. Sounds gross, but trust me, it's delicious.
What I have learned over the years is that people are very particular about their caesars. I rarely order caesars in the bar, either they're too spicy, or too savory. Never as good as I can make at home. I rarely order them at all any more, now that I'm in Seattle. I will however occasionally order a bloody mary, usually for breakfast, and that one time I ordered one it was made with sake. That was mind blowing. I shared a caesar recipe below. One that is specific too my tastes. You can alter any one of the ingredients. People often make them with lime. I prefer lemon. My sister likes to add crushed garlic to hers. The possibilities are endless. I only have one requirement. A garnish of grilled cheese.
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GRILLED CHEESE BLOODY CAESAR
makes 1 drink
2 slices of bread
1 oz cheddar cheese
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp celery salt
1 lime or lemon, cut into quarters
1 oz vodka
3 - 5 dashes of Worcestershire
1/4 tsp horseradish
8 oz Clamato juice
Tabasco sauce to taste
1 celery stalk
1 pickle
Prepare the grilled cheese. Cut it in half, and then place a 2 inch cut down the middle of each slice. This will allow you to place the grilled cheese onto the glass.
Dump the celery salt into a small bowl. Rim the glass with a lemon or lime wedge. Dip the rim of the glass into the celery salt to coat.
Fill the glass 3/4 full with ice. Add the juice from a 1/4 lemon wedge to the glass along with the vodka, Worcestershire, and horseradish. Fill the glass with Clamato juice an inch from the top. Add Tabasco sauce. 1 dash for low spice 5 dashes for spicy.
Garnish with a celery stalk, pickle, and half a grilled cheese sandwich.
