Black Truffle Grilled Cheese Food

BLACK TRUFFLE MAC AND CHEESE (HANGOVER GRILLED CHEESE)

Steps:

• For the mac and cheese: Heat the truffle oil in a large pot over low heat. Add the shallots and thyme and cook until the shallots are golden. Add the garlic and continue cooking until golden. Add the vegetable base and stir. Add the wine and cook until reduced, 10 to 15 minutes. Add the flour slowly, stirring, until a thick paste forms. Add the cream and simmer, stirring frequently, until thickened, 10 to 15 minutes. Add the mixed cheese (except for the Parmesan and Cheddar) slowly while stirring. Once all the cheese is in, you will begin to see a nice sauce come to life. Continue to cook, stirring, about 15 minutes. Add the Parmesan at the very end. This cheese is like glue; it holds the sauce and the pasta together.
• While the cheese sauce simmers, bring a large pot of water with 1/4 cup salt to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and add a touch of olive oil to keep the pasta from sticking. The pasta is now ready to soak up the cheese sauce. Return the pasta to the pot and stir in the cheese sauce.
• For the sandwich: Preheat a flattop to 350 degrees F.
• Place the Cheddar slices and lobster if using in between the bread slices and close the sandwich. Ladle some clarified butter onto the flattop. Place the sandwich on the flattop and cook until the bread is golden and crisp and the cheese is melted. Flip and cook until golden on the other side. Open the bread and stuff with a heaping serving spoon of the mac and cheese. Close the sandwich, cut and serve.

DOUBLE-DECKER TRUFFLED GRILLED CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Melt 3 tablespoons butter with 1 teaspoon truffle oil in an ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add 2 slices bread, and toast on both sides. Set the toast aside and reserve the skillet.
• Lay out one slice of untoasted bread. Top with one-quarter each of the brie, figs and jack cheese, then a slice of toasted bread, then another layer of brie, figs and jack. Close with a slice of untoasted bread. Repeat to make another double-decker sandwich.
• Melt the remaining 3 tablespoons butter with the remaining 1 to 2 teaspoons truffle oil in the skillet over medium heat. Add the sandwiches and cook until golden on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook until golden on the other side, about 2 more minutes, then transfer the skillet to the oven and cook until the cheese is melted, 6 to 8 minutes. Serve with the fig preserves.
• Photograph my Andrew Mccaul