Thursday, January 29, 2009

The Bistro Sandwich of My Dreams

For Christmas this year we received a panini grill as a family gift (thank you Mom!) A Cuisinart Multifunctional Griddler Gourmet Maker GRID-8PC to be exact, and I was so excited to get it because there was a sandwich that I have been hoping to recreate for some time.


Last March our family went to Arizona to visit my in-laws. One day my mother-in-law and I went shopping and had lunch at a place in Scottsdale called Zinc Bistro and I have to say it was one of the best lunches I have EVER had! I had a cup of French onion soup, a Pellegrino, and the two of us shared a grilled sandwich and crème brûlée for dessert. The sandwich was u-n-b-e-l-i-e-v-a-b-l-e. On grilled rustic bread was a tender herbed chicken breast and gooey Brie cheese. That's it. Nothing else. Unbelievable.

The other night I tried to recreate this sandwich using my grill and I have to say that I did a very good job. Although the experience of eating it outside this charming bistro, talking with my maw-in-law and watching gorgeous people walk by is also a part what made the lunch so great. And eating this sandwich takes me back to that place.

Basiled Chicken & Brie Sandwich (makes 4 sandwiches)

rustic crusty French bread, sliced

butter

carved chicken breast (my secret is Hormel carved roasted chicken breast if I don't have some chicken breasts already roasted, it's quick and ready to go)


1 Tbs olive oil

2 tsp basil (fresh is probably best - finely chopped, but I only had dried on hand and it was still delicious!)

a pinch of thyme leaves (I used fresh)

double cream Brie cheese, sliced and white waxy rind removed

In small bowl combine olive oil, basil and thyme. Add carved chicken and toss. Let sit while preparing bread.

Butter outsides of sliced bread. Place sliced Brie on one piece of bread, then pile on herbed chicken. Place other slice of bread on top and place in panini grill on medium, with the top down. It only takes about 3-5 minutes to grill, but keep checking it; the cheese should melt and there should be deep golden grill marks on bread. Enjoy!


I'm sorry I don't have any photos of it, I was too anxious to eat it and completely forgot about taking pictures. Yeah, it was THAT good!

6 comments:

Journeying Five said...

showing my naivity...what is pellegrino? oh my! i might just live to far north to be civilized! would love to try but no panini maker here

Kelly said...

Oops, sorry, I should have been more specific. Pellegrino is actually San Pellegrino and it is an Italian sparkling mineral water much like Perrier. It's a very cafe and bistro appropriate beverage ... you know, over priced and fancy!

heather said...

Yum, Yum, Yum! Thanks for sharing this recipe.

Jodiferkay said...

This sounds delish! Can you express mail one to Corn Valley?! :)

Zil said...

Will you make that for me?

heather said...

I had company over tonight and made this sandwich-or my version of it-YUM! It is amazing! Thanks for sharing!