Whenever I travel, I find myself deeply inspired by the food I encounter and savor. I maintain a substantial note in my Evernote app, aptly titled Recipe Ideas. It’s grown so extensive that I’ve split it into two separate notes: Sweet Recipe Ideas and Savory Recipe Ideas. I find myself adding to these notes every few days, but when I’m on the road, my creativity kicks into overdrive, and I’m updating them daily.
Upon returning home, I often feel an urge to dive into creating, sourcing, or developing recipes from the ideas I’ve gathered. One such creation is a grilled cheese sandwich inspired by our visit to The Churchill, a bar we stopped at in Victoria, British Columbia during our Alaskan cruise with Princess Cruises.
I regret not snapping more photos of the bar—it boasted an impressive selection of beers on tap. In fact, they don’t even maintain an online list of their offerings; you have to check their Instagram account for updates.
I must confess my fondness for bacon, a rediscovered passion after fifteen pork-free years. When we ordered the grilled cheese sandwich with fries and drinks, I had to ask the server to add bacon. Curtis gave me a sidelong glance; he probably thinks I’ve become obsessed since becoming a bacon enthusiast.
To prep the bacon, I’ve developed the habit of slicing it in half before cooking. This makes flipping easier and ensures even cooking. If there are any leftover uncooked pieces, we freeze them in portions, making it simple to grab a few without defrosting the whole batch.
I cook bacon in a nonstick skillet, cleaning the pan with a paper towel afterward. Admittedly, I made this grilled cheese sandwich five times at home before sharing the recipe with you—my apologies for the delay. Before leaving the pub, I had asked the server to find out about the cheeses used, and she revealed it was Swiss and cheddar—music to my ears!
I also noticed a garlic and herb butter spread on the bread, which led me to try Land O’Lakes Garlic & Herb Butter Spread for this recipe.
You know the basics of making grilled cheese! One tip is to ensure there’s extra cheese layered between any added ingredients, like bacon. The crusty cheese at the bottom of the pan is my absolute favorite!
After flipping the sandwich, press down lightly with a spatula. And there you have it—another delightful recipe inspired by our Alaskan adventure! Excuse me while I whip up another one! 🙂
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Princess Cruises. I only share brands that I genuinely love and provide my honest opinions.
