Thank goodness. The gooey, tantalizing Memphis Grilled Cheese Fest returns November 5th.
The annual event is back after four years with lots of grilled cheese sandwiches from competing teams as well as live music, cheesy gifts, a cheese-eating competition, and food trucks. It takes place between noon and 4 p.m. in front of and inside the Hi Tone at 282-284 Cleveland Street, which will be blocked off between Larkin Avenue and Peach Avenue. The Hi-Tone will be open with live bands on both floors. Deejays will provide tunes outside.
The event’s creator, Brian “Skinny” McCabe, will be back, too. “I don’t even know when or how I thought of the idea, but it was a really, really long time ago,” he says.
McCabe had just moved his club from Poplar Avenue to its first address on Cleveland Street. “I was sitting around thinking of stuff to do and cool things to bring to the neighborhood,” he said.
He originally thought about holding the event inside the club. “Then I put the Facebook event up and got crazy response and had to figure out how to talk to the city and get the street shut down.”
The festival was a hit. “A couple of thousand people showed up.”
McCabe chose grilled cheese sandwiches because he likes the sandwich. “It’s one of my favorite comfort foods of all time. So easy. So cheap. Bread, butter, and cheese. It’s so straightforward.”
He also likes them made a certain way. “I personally love Texas toast and Country Crock butter,” he says, adding, “And then you sprinkle some Everything Bagel seasoning on there. Two or three Kraft singles. And then toast it up. Cut it corner to corner — not width wise.”
Memphis Grilled Cheese festival is always held on a Sunday to accommodate restaurant people who can attend on their day off.
McCabe raises money for charities with event proceeds. This year, the festival will benefit Thrive Memphis — “an organization that helps special needs and handicapped children.”
He has his reasons for always holding the event in November. “I don’t want to eat hot food when it’s hot outside. I want it to be the last street festival of the year. And warm people up. And if the grilled cheese doesn’t warm you up, the Hi Tone will be open with lots of whiskey to sell.”
McCabe doesn’t yet know how many teams will participate this year, but the competition is open to everybody. “It can be you and your buddies. It can be restaurants, law offices, Wiffle ball teams.”
Participating teams pass out grilled cheese to those who give donations for the fundraiser. Whichever team raises the most money is the grand champion.
And some of those teams load on the cheese, McCabe says. “You have so much cheese on there you won’t be able to whistle for days.”
But he has a solution to that problem. “Whisky will get things moving. Because alcohol is the cause and solution of all problems.”
Teams also can compete for “Best Tomato Soup.” Grilled cheese and tomato soup just go together, McCabe says. Growing up, he “always had tomato soup to either dip it in or accompany it. Some people use chicken noodle soup instead. That’s totally fine. I’ve tried it both ways.”
And teams can vie for “Most Ridiculous.” McCabe has seen all types of ingredients, including steak, pork belly, a quail egg, and even stuffed animals, on the grilled cheese sandwiches. “One year I saw a grilled cheese sandwich dipped in funnel cake batter and fried. And that was wild.”
Some of the braver attendees participate in the grilled cheese-eating contest. “We set down a plate of 20 or 30 grilled cheese sandwiches in front of you. Whoever eats the most in a designated amount of time is the winner.”
Winners receive prizes. “We’ve got all kinds of little knick-knacks and stuff.”
Bram Bors-Koefoed, who won the grilled cheese eating contest in 2018, received a pair of socks dotted with images of cheese along with a toaster. “I think my wife and I found those just out and about somewhere,” McCabe says. “We collect stuff all year long. Anything that has grilled cheese on it.”
For the first time, McCabe had trophies made for the grilled cheese team winners. The metal-and-plastic trophies are topped with grilled cheese and tomato soup statues.
This year’s festival will feature “a whole kids’ activity section” with balloon animals and face painting, McCabe says.
Live music will be provided by Sunweight, The Memphis Winslows, and The Heavy Pour.
Memphis Grilled Cheese Festival sounds like it would be heaven for its creator, but, McCabe says, “I rarely get to eat any grilled cheese. I have to go home and make my own after the festival because I’m just busy.”
For more information or to participate as a team, go to memphisgrilledcheese.com.