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When The Foundry's Eric Greenspan announced he was opening a grilled cheese restaurant, it was big news. Grilled cheese, the ooey, gooey and naughty comfort food that could possibly solve world peace, has encapsulated Los Angeles in the past, whether it be with the hordes of people that show up at the annual Grilled Cheese Invitational (no date announced yet) or head out to the Grilled Cheese Truck. Greenspan, who won the Invitational and is known for competing on Iron Chef, is still working on his restaurant, but Lucinda Michele at Metblogs spoke to him about his plans.
Greenspan envisions it to be an affordable--$10-12, he says--fast casual style restaurant, hopefully in the space next to the Foundry on Melrose. The menu will, of course, feature The Champ, which won the invitational. Found at The Foundry, it's short-ribs-and-taleggio on raisin bread with a piquant apricot-caper schmear.
Other menu ideas include "one that’s a play on chicken wings, bleu cheese, celery and carrot slaw on rye bread with a spicy sauce." Continued: "We’ve got a medianoche pressed sandwich with pork and Swiss cheese on French bread. We’re looking forward to playing around & altering them a lot, with a featured sandwich every month, microseasonal, and some great artisan cheeses being made in America; and a 'Make Your Own' option for people who can’t decide. Like at The Foundry, it’s gonna constantly be changing. For me that’s what excites me about food: the constant ability to innovate & create."
The restaurant made ZagatBuzz' list of most-anticipated 2010 L.A. restaurant openings. LAist caught Greenspan making a grilled cheese last October at Los Angeles Magazine's annual food event.
