I met Lane Levine several years ago when he was selling his bread at the Olney Farmers and Artists Market. He was a scrappy start-up from Baltimore then, and still is. Alas, as his business evolved, the farmers market model was phased out. I now have to buy his bread in Roots.
He is also broadening his product line. He introduced a line of “toasts,” Melba-like crackers, last year. Now he is test-marketing grilled cheese sandwiches. I received a sandwich for review last week.
Now, one might think that a grilled cheese sandwich is an item that can be made at home without much trouble. After all, you only need: 2 pieces of bread, one or more slices of cheese, and some kind of fat. Cook in a skillet until browned and melty. Done.
But Lane thinks that there is a market for his sandwich, and he might just be right. It comes frozen, ready to pop in your toaster-oven (or microwave, if you must), and is ready to eat in under 10 minutes. He has done extensive research to find just the right blend of cheeses for the inside, and of course the bread is none other than his Simple Country Sourdough, for which I have nothing but superlatives.
I followed the directions, and the cheese was molten a few minutes before the 8-10 minutes called for (but my toaster-oven runs hot). The top of the bread was lightly toasted; the bottom a little darker. I let it sit as directed, so the cheese was not burning-the-tongue hot when it hit my plate.
And it was, indeed, delicious – the edges of the bread were shatteringly crisp, the insides contrastingly and satisfyingly unctuous. The mix of extra-sharp cheddar and mozzarella gave it a “grown-up” taste way better than the classic processed American cheese slice we all grew up with.
I think this sandwich will be popular with A Friendly Bread’s customer base, those who know how good Lane’s bread is and don’t mind paying a premium price for it. The value-added aspects of excellent cheese and toaster-oven convenience make it a very attractive addition to A Friendly Bread’s product line.
Learn more about A Friendly Bread and place your order here.
