Restaurant: Tom + Chee, Louisville, Kentucky
The world is full of comfort foods. You know…those foods that make you feel nostalgic, or comforted, or just…make you feel better. While chocolate, ice cream, and sweet treats often find their way onto this list…sometimes it’s something so normal and basic that just makes you feel content.
That’s what makes Tom + Chee a great place to get some nostalgic eats…but with a twist.
Why?
Because Tom + Chee is serving up gourmet grilled cheese (in every combination thought of by man…and then some!) with three varieties of homemade tomato soup. Your basic…soup and sandwich. And who doesn’t love tomato soup and grilled cheese? It’s one of my favorite meals…any time of year. It’s just…comforting.
Now…turn it up a notch.
My roomie and I have talked about checking out Tom + Chee since they opened up a location in Louisville, Kentucky. The other three locations, by the way, are in Cincinnati. We walked by it numerous times and knew about it as well from Man v. Food when Adam Richman went there to have one of their famous Blueberry Bleu Grilled Cheese Donuts, which is one of Tom + Chee’s signature items. It’s basically a house-made blueberry reduction, mozzarella cheese, and bleu cheese on an inside-out glazed donut. Yes…seriously. But all the talk never amounted to action. And then Groupon offered up a deal on Tom + Chee and now we had incentive.
No grilled cheese donuts for this gluten-free girl! Besides, I’m not into the whole “Paula Deen Sammie” appeal. So…I stuck with what I knew I could have…and yes…they have gluten-free and vegan options here at Tom + Chee.
My roommate went for one of their classic grilled cheese options with a bowl of the Chunky Tomato and Basil Soup. Her grilled cheese of choice is the often raved about and much mentioned BBQ + Bacon Grilled Cheese (1/2 sandwich). The combo was only $5 because if you get something other than a plain grilled cheese, they do not charge you to do the 1/2 sandwich and soup combo. NICE! So what is (this is so non-vegetarian, but I didn’t eat it) on the BBQ + Bacon Grilled Cheese? Simply BBQ chips, bacon, American cheese on white bread. Yep…that was her grilled cheese and one of their most popular as it is always mentioned.
As for me…the gluten-free vegetarian…well, they have something for me too. YAY!! I also did the 1/2 sandwich and soup combo. I opted for a grilled cheese sandwich on gluten-free bread with vegan cheese on it. I went with the Classic Tomato Soup as my soup part of the combo, after inquiring as to whether their soups were gluten-free. After the cashier checked, I was told all three of their soups are gluten-free. NICE! My combo only ran $4.50.
The Groupon covered all but tax once we added fountain drinks, and soon we were given a number to set on our table and we settled in to wait for our order. I couldn’t stop looking at the menu board and checking out all the different versions of fancy and classic grilled cheese options on there. It was awesome. Our wait was about 10 minutes, as it is all done fresh and to order. We could see the line for the sandwiches being assembled. And yes…they changed gloves for the gluten-free sandwich (mine!).
All sandwiches are grilled with a vegan soy oil (instead of butter), which gives them this amazing crust on the outside. I found that fascinating. But it makes sense. A vegan can’t have a sandwich that is cooked with butter. Doesn’t work that way.
Our orders arrived at our table and I was never happier to have grilled cheese and tomato soup brought to me in my life. They looked and smelled absolutely amazing. After snapping pictures of the food (I always do!) I was finally able to dig in. I started with the Classic Tomato Soup. And it is just that. Classic. Tomato. Soup. It tastes like the soup I grew up eating, but better as it is homemade and not from the can. It is made fresh every day and you can tell. Delicious, rich, tomato-y…like marinara…but not as thick. It was tomato soup done to restaurant perfection. No chunks. Just plain and simple.
My gluten-free and vegan grilled cheese was my next bite. I’m not sure what the vegan cheese they used in the sandwich is…but it was more of a goat cheese texture and look than a slice of cheese. Fine by me. It was probably something like a Daiya wedge or Teese. Either way, it was delicious. My favorite part? The way the bread tasted due to being grilled in the vegan soy oil. It gave it a little salt, a little crunch, and tons of flavor. Even better…this sandwich was amazing dunked into the tomato soup. Which, mind you, at Tom + Chee, you can offers “Soup Dippers” for an extra $1 with any grilled cheese order. Gotta love that!! I was in tomato soup and grilled cheese heaven.
And, if you haven’t figured out why it’s called Tom + Chee…take a look: Tom(ato) + Chee(se).
So, if you happen to be in Cincinnati or or Louisville and really want to experience some great soup and sammie options…I recommend…no, highly recommend trying out Tom + Chee. Honestly…nothing is better than a perfect grilled cheese and delicious tomato soup…and that’s what you will get here. Accept no substitutes.
Fall in love with a classic all over again…and discover why this falls into the category of comfort food.
I’m forever a fan…and really looking froward to a return visit…and soon.
The Celiathlete 