Pig & Prince Restaurant Duck Fat Grilled Cheese

Pig & Prince Restaurant Duck Fat Grilled Cheese

Today is National Grilled Cheese Day, a day dedicated to celebrating a national favorite: the grilled cheese sandwich. Chef Mike Carrino, of popular restaurant Pig & Prince Restaurant in Montclair, NJ, has masterfully created an elegant and delicious twist on a classic sandwich – the Duck Fat Grilled Cheese.

Duck Fat Grilled Cheese _ pig and princeThis elevated take on the ‘old reliable’ of sandwiches is sure to please die-hard grilled cheese lovers.

Duck Fat Grilled Cheese

  • 8 – ½ inch slices of artisanal rosemary sourdough
  • (or your favorite type of rustic bread)
  • 12 slices of muenster cheese
  • 12 slices of cypress grove, midnight moon cheese
  • 8 large slices of tomato
  • House made boursin cheese (see recipe below)
  • 16 slices of duck bacon (regular pork bacon can also be used)
  • 4 tbls melted butter
  • 4 tbls rendered duck fat (duck confit fat would be best)

Housemade Boursin:

  • 16oz cream cheese softened
  • ½ cup soft butter
  • 3 cloves garlic (microplane)
  • 1 tbsp chopped herbs
  • ¼ tsp chopped dried oregano
  • ¼ tsp chopped dill
  • ¼ tsp chopped basil
  • Salt and lemon to taste

In a medium bowl, mix all the boursin ingredients together until fully incorporated.

To assemble the grilled cheese:

  1. Spread some melted duck fat on the inside of the bread with a pastry brush.
  2. Smear your homemade boursin on the inside of each slice of bread.
  3. Layer 3 slices of Muenster on one side of the sandwich bread and 3 slices of Midnight Moon on the other side of the sandwich.
  4. Lay the tomato on the Midnight Moon side and then the duck bacon (or bacon) on top of the tomato.
  5. Place Muenster side on top in a large skillet, on medium heat, pour in melted butter and the remaining duck fat.
  6. Cook on each side for about 3 minutes each, moving often to keep the heat equally distributed.
  7. Remove from pan and allow to sit one to two minutes before cutting.

Happy National Grilled Cheese Day!

Veronique