Celebrate National Grilled Cheese Day With Melty Goodness

Melted cheese between two grilled and buttered slices of bread is probably one of the most beloved sandwiches out there. Whether you stray a little outside the box with this recipe for chips and guacamole grilled cheese, or keep it simple with some Kraft cheese and a pat of butter, celebrate your love for grilled cheese during National Grilled Cheese Day on April 12th.

Even though grilled cheese has become a whole lot more popular these days — with entire food trucks and restaurants like the popular New York City chains Melt Shop and Little Meunster (where we found out that you can get a free cup of tomato soup when you buy a grilled cheese on that day) devoted to the delicious and melty combination — grilled cheese is actually an ancient concept.

Get inspired with The Daily Meal's 12 Delicious Takes on Grilled Cheese Sandwiches(Slideshow)

Ancient roman cookbooks have been found with recipes for cheese sandwiches, but according to Grilled Cheesery, the grilled cheese fan site, a grilled cheese and bread sandwich became popular during the 1920s and 30s by down-on-their-luck Americans who couldn't afford meat. It may have started out as a poor man's food, but now a Chicago restaurant is offering a $100 grilled cheese, which features gold flakes and white truffle aioli. 

We recommend celebrating National Grilled Cheese day any day of the year, because honestly, who needs an excuse to enjoy melted cheese?

Joanna Fantozzi is an Associate Editor with The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @JoannaFantozzi