Sandwich Eater’s Chronicles: Grilled Cheese & Hot Donuts

Posted: September 17th, 2012 | Filed under: Ruminations, Sandwich Eater Chronicle | No Comments »

If at all possible, when dining out, I try to eat at a local place.

Of course, I find myself at chains more often than I’d like. But, unlike buying a pair of pants or new microwave over the internet where the only entity locally that might be getting in on the action is the delivery company, there is the wait staff and local managers and local food suppliers that keep some of the money in the local economy.

OK, you get my point.

As I’ve mentioned before, I lunch with a couple of old pals every Wednesday, and we move around after eating for several years only at Rainbow Blossom.

Last week, we went to the new Mellow Mushroom that’s cropped up in the heart of downtown, parking-bereft St. Matthews. It’s an ambitious venture. The space is huge. Lots of tables.

I’m not here to critique the food, which was better than most of these chains, but to give the franchisee — and I assume, the franchisor — a compliment. While gutting and reconfiguring the space, part of which used to be Dutch’s Tavern, a really old funky sign was discovered under the facade.

To their credit, instead of falling prey to the usual corporate branding mind set — you listenin’ Urban Outfitters? — the pizza folks kept the Baker Boy Hot Donuts sign. Looks like they might even have freshened up the paint job on it too.

So, I’m sure not giving up my loyalty to the local pizza joints I frequent way too often — you know who you are because you know what I want to order just by hearing the sound of my voice — but I do intend to return to Mellow Mushroom. Any place willing to preserve such funky remnants of Louisville’s past is all right with me.

* * * * *

 Its going to be fascinating to observe the half life of the spate of grilled cheese and tomato soup shoppes that have opened recently. Tom + Chee. L’il Cheezers. I dunno, there might be others.

It certainly is a niche concept. What immediately came to mind when I saw the first one was the Scotch Tape Store bit on SNL years ago. (I thought of the bit again when checking out the battery store in Shelbyville Road Plaza.)

My Wednesday guys and I have tried ’em both. L’il Cheezers, which I believe used to be a truck, is clearly superior. Shorter menu. Better taste. More style. Though the homemade chips were soggy and underfried the day we ate there. Then again they’d only been open in the space for a day or two. (Actually we visited the battery store too. Amazing what adventures ensue when you’ve got time to kill.)

 

 

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