Arcadia England

By Ben Adams

One of London’s most exotic street food vendors

As I walk down a narrow street off Leather Lane, filled with food stands and small shops, a wooden food stand with a bright yellowish-orange shade named “Grill My Cheese” latches onto my senses. It was difficult to find since it was not close to any main roads, but I was able to follow the inviting smell of the melted cheese on the steel grill from a distance.

Their menu was small and only consisted of three types of sandwiches that vary each day. I did not hesitate to buy their most popular one, the Baby Got Mac, for an inexpensive £6. Customers are given the choice to double their order, but I stuck with a budget and decided to get the single since this was my first time eating there. The small establishment is open 12:00pm-2:00pm every Tuesday-Friday.

Today, the three items on the menu consisted of the Baby Got Mac, a traditional style grilled cheese sandwich, and a Mexicana with nacho cheese and salsa. I decided to go with the former because it consisted of just about everything that lights up my tastebuds, including their signature cheese blend with Mac n’ cheese and pulled pork topped with their very own brand of Barbeque sauce sitting on an organic sourdough bun. As I watched the cook place the fresh handmade recipe on the grill my mouth immediately began to water. Seconds felt like minutes and the short five minutes it took cook the sandwich felt like an hour to me, but once she handed me the crispy delight I bit a chunk out of it like a carnivorous feign.

The first bite was slightly disappointing because it was only a crispy chunk of crust and cheese. The sandwich grew richer, tangy, and cheesier as I ate closer to its creamy center. Creating a flavorsome balance of bread, cheese, meat and barbeque sauce, there was no ingredient that trumped the other. The first thing that hit my sense of taste was the brown, crispy, and buttery sourdough bread. Within moments, the zingy barbeque torques my taste buds. Topping it off with heady pulled pork before the creamy mac n’cheese melted in my mouth.

The Baby Got Mac at Grill My Cheese was nothing short of satisfying and shattered my expectations. Although I wish they served a small side or cold beverage along with the sandwich, I highly recommend Grill My Cheese to all sandwich, cheese and meat enthusiasts. This was the first visit of many more to come and the next time I return I will not hesitate to double my sandwich contents.