Franz Bakery Grilled Cheese Throwdown

Apparently April 12 is National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day.  So on Sunday April 12, 2015, this resulted in that I had the delicious pleasure of sampling 4 grilled cheeses created using Franz Bakery bread. The four grilled cheeses were submissions by local grilled cheese lovers to Franz Bakery as part of a Grilled Cheese contest in which the grand prize included a year’s supply of Franz bread and an All-Clad barbecue tool set. Franz selected the four finalists, who then at Migration Brewing on Sunday from 11 AM – 2 PM cooked their grilled cheese sandwich entry for the public and for the Judges. This was a free family friendly event, and it was a lot of fun!

Each grilled cheese recipe had to use a Franz bread product and 5 ingredients to keep it simple. If you want to see all the entries, they were on social media using the hashtag #franzgrilledcheezeday on the Franz Bakery Facebook wall or on Twitter and Instagram. But let’s take a look at the finalists, shall we? These were all really great sandwiches and I think I have ideas for future grilled cheese parties…

Lindsay Strannigan who also writes the blog RoseMarried presented The Kimcheeze, with Franz Texas Toast with bacon, Tillamook Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Choi’s Spicy Kimchi and Green Onions. You can see her pro tip is putting a cover while grilling.

Rebekah Hubbard of PDXFoodLove (along with her husband Dave here) presented Curd is the Word, with the ingredients of Franz San Juan Nine Grain, ‘Nduja, Cheddar Cheese Curds, Arugula, and Mayonnaise. Her pro tip here as demonstrated by her husband Dave is putting the mayo on the outside when grilling! Although she used San Juan Nine Grain on the first sandwich you see, I also tried one on the Franz Gluten Free bread of Great Seed which I had never had before and I will definitely seek out again (it also comes in a regular gluten version).

Christina Johnson created The Chicken Cheese Overseas with Seattle Sourdough Baking Company Garlic Sourdough, Chicken Breast, Tillamook Swiss Cheese, Sun Dried Tomato Pesto, and Greek Cream Cheese Spread.

Christina’s pro technique in grilling was making sure the grill was hot and then rubbing a stick of butter (making sure it sizzles of course) for each side of the grilled cheese. I had never heard of the garlic sourdough bread she used her from Franz, and I’ll be keeping an eye out for it as well as it looks like it’s perfect for making great paninis.

Ultimately, Renee Butcher of The Good Hearted Woman took home the prize with her Irish Apple Pie Twice Grilled Cheese, with the ingredients of Franz Bainbridge Island Cinnamon Swirl Bread, Kerrygold Dubliner Cheese, Granny Smith Apples and Apple Butter.

I loved how Renee made this a combination of both savory and sweet, and the extra special touch of an extra cheese crisps she also grilled! You can find her award winning take on the grilled cheese on her blog!

I was impressed by all the ladies slinging those hundreds of grilled cheeses for the crowds. It was a really fun, family friendly event with lots of little knee-high and less kiddies. I loved seeing new generations being exposed to more than just white Wonder bread and American cheese.

Did you know that Franz Bakery has been operating for more than 100 years (thanks to two brothers from Austria who founded their small independent bakery in Portland in 1906) and continues to be family owned (fourth generation) and operate at that same address (NE 11th and Flanders) although it has since expanded to grow into one of the largest bakeries in the West Coast? I know because I love sniffing the air around there if I’m fortunate to be there when it smells like fresh baked bread. Oh, what I would do to be able to sneak in and grab a loaf and stick of butter and just that would be enough during those tantalizing aroma times…

I really enjoy that besides being local, the Franz Bakery bread portfolio comes in a great variety of different options, my favorite including the Potato Hamburger buns for burgers, and for regular sandwich needs I like the Lake Washington Honey Oat & Nut or Cannon Beach Milk & Honey or Oregon Hazelnut Bread. Though clearly I need to expand and try more great bread since I tried new ones at this event! All in all, there are more than 100 kinds of baked good products they make, ranging from sandwich bread to sliders to bagels, dinner rolls, croutons and cakes, and donuts and english muffins, and cookies and bear claws and cinnamon rolls and more… I want some just writing this list! There is No High Fructose Corn Syrup used, you should check out the Franz bakery product list to see all they have to offer. I had no idea they had so many – and now I know to keep my eye out for some new kinds!

Have you tried Franz bakery bread, and if you have, what did you end up trying? Do you have a favorite? Which bread would you use for your version of Franz Bakery Grilled Cheese? In general what’s your favorite recipe for grilled cheese?

Also important- where can I get a calendar of all these food holidays…