grilled-cheese

The official grilled-cheese champion, for the highest scored sandwich, was a husband-wife team whose grilled-cheese dessert was assembled with ingredients including marshmallow Peeps.

For These Sandwich Lovers, the Cheese Stands Alone Miriam Jordan 2011

In 50-minute heats, they grilled 20 samples, delivered by "cheese runners" to "spectator judges," members of the public who paid $12 to attend, and "executive judges," who included food critics, restaurant owners and cheese connoisseur Laura Werlin, who just published her second grilled-cheese cookbook.

For These Sandwich Lovers, the Cheese Stands Alone Miriam Jordan 2011

His team's winning entry this year was "The Brick is the Trick," thanks to a technique passed to him by his French grandmother, who used a brick wrapped in foil to press her grilled-cheese sandwiches.

For These Sandwich Lovers, the Cheese Stands Alone Miriam Jordan 2011

Contestants could prepare sandwiches in categories ranging from only white bread, butter and cheese, to dessert grilled-cheese sandwiches.

For These Sandwich Lovers, the Cheese Stands Alone Miriam Jordan 2011

That the humble gooey sandwich has gone gourmet is evidenced by trendy grilled-cheese trucks that tweet their whereabouts, the advent of top chefs divining grilled-cheese creations and the appearance of cookbooks devoted entirely to grilled-cheese recipes.

For These Sandwich Lovers, the Cheese Stands Alone Miriam Jordan 2011

Scientist Mike Davidson, who won a trophy in 2009, has since started a grilled-cheese mobile cart in Berkeley.

For These Sandwich Lovers, the Cheese Stands Alone Miriam Jordan 2011

A joint ad with Kraft Foods touts a bowl of Campbell's tomato soup and a Kraft grilled-cheese sandwich as a "wallet friendly" meal.

CEO Profile: Campbell exec nears 'extraordinary' goal 2009

But the best example stateside would have to be Portland, Ore., where more than 300 carts park in several “pods” downtown, and eaters line up for Bosnian pita, vegan rice bowls, burgers whose “buns” are actually little grilled-cheese sandwiches, even some fantastic espresso.

Twitter, truck 'ghettos' and consumer behavior Joe Yonan 2010

His onion-rings video has scored nearly two million views; a grilled-cheese sandwich tutorial has scored over 600,000.

Anneli Rufus: Naked, Bitchin', Virgin: Who Will Win This Year's Tasty Awards? Anneli Rufus 2011

The event is a testament to the nation's grilled-cheese renaissance.

For These Sandwich Lovers, the Cheese Stands Alone Miriam Jordan 2011