NANCY CALLS MATT KIM'S FRIED CHICKEN-TOPPED GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH “THE COMFORT FOOD WE NEED RIGHT NOW”

Comfort food. The very term conjures up savory thoughts of fried chicken. grilled cheese sandwiches. But during these times when comfort food is more needed than ever, chef Matthew Kim has done something that seems almost revolutionary in it’s simplicity;; He has combined the two, placing a tender boneless piece of fried chicken atop an excellent crunchy grilled cheese sandwich.

The grilled cheese sandwich in itself is worthy of praise from the Universe’s master of the beloved form, Nancy Silverton. ‘It’s an excellent grilled cheese sandwich. It is the comfort food we need right now. The mornay inside is a brilliant move.”

The “mornay’ she is referring to is the mornay sauce. a Gruyere-infused bechamel, which blends with a 75% Gruyere, 25% cheddar cheese mix and caramelized onions between Bub N’ Grandmas’s house loaf.

Kim worked for Silverton at Osteria Mozza where his greatest achievement was meeting his future wife. McKenna Lelah Kim had previously worked in Chicago with chefs Grant Achatz and Dave Beran at Next and, after Mozza, was reunited with Beran. first a Dialogue and now Pasjoli on Main Street in Santa Monica. (Interesting - for some, at least - to note, when Beran replaced Marco Mapelli as the head Lamborghini test driver at the Nurburgring, Kim was promoted to run Pasjoli.)

Now,, credit for the addition of the fried chicken is controversial, at best. Some have said it was Kim’s idea, some said it was McKenna’s, and others are saying Larry Hoover, the imprisoned leader of the Gangster Disciples from the Southside of Chicago. came up with the idea.

Whoever did, it’s the sandwich for these historic times.

The non fried chicken version of the grilled cheese is available for $11. On Sunday, May 17th Pasjoli will offer a fried chicken dinner with lots of other stuff for $49.

https://www.pasjoli.com/menu-1