David's Favorite Recipes

  • Breakfast
    • Breakfast Home
    • Heather’s Famous Cinnamon Rolls
    • Sunday Sour Cream Blueberry Pancakes
    • Sarah Hooker’s Family Olympics Breakfast Casserole
    • My Bermudian Mother’s Caramelized Bananas and Bacon
  • Appetizers
    • Appetizers Home
    • Ollie’s Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail With Two Sauces
    • Mike Gilbert’s Roasted Beet Hummus
    • Spring Vegetable Platter With Rolling Rock Dip
    • St. James Clam’s Casino
    • Jeanne Cook’s Hot Artichoke Dip
    • Smoked Salmon With Shallot & Dill Cream Cheese
    • Lobster Cocktail Marie Rose
    • Maine Crab Cocktail Dip
  • Soups
    • Soups Home
    • The Essential Homemade Chicken Stock
    • Dick Viall’s Chilled Melon Soup
    • Summer Gazpacho With Ripe Red Cherries
    • Homemade Tomato Basil Soup
    • Chef King’s Crab Bisque
    • New England Jumbo Shrimp Chowder
    • Hearty Lentil Soup With Cream Sherry
    • The Ultimate Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Broccoli Cheddar Soup
    • Ruthie’s Maine Fish Chowder
    • Barbara Wickwire’s Chilled Pea Soup
  • Salads
    • Salads Home
    • Mediterranean Salad With Sculley House Vinaigrette
    • David’s Special Albacore Tuna Salad
    • Spinach and Bacon Salad With Soy Ginger Dressing
    • Bob Smith’s Signature Tableside Caeser Salad
    • Curried Chicken Salad With Chutney Mayonnaise
    • Jane West’s Famous Bermuda Chicken Salad
    • Howard’s Goat Cheese & Pear Salad
    • Teriyaki Strip Steak Salad
    • Jumbo Shrimp Salad With Pineapple Vinaigrette
  • Sandwiches
    • Sandwiches Home
    • Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwich with Asian Slaw
    • Grilled Honey Lime Chicken Fajita
    • Asian Minced Pork and Lettuce Flatbread Wrap
    • Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich “Croque Monsieur”
    • Ground Lamb Flatbread Gyro with Tzatziki Sauce
    • Lobster Cocktail Marie Rose
    • Margot’s Pulled Pork Sandwich With Two Sauces
  • Main Dishes
    • Main Dishes Home
    • Swedish Meatballs With Buttered Egg Noodles
    • Sweet Sausage Chili
    • D. Sculley’s Perfect Filet Mignon
    • Jeb’s Juicy Gourmet Meatloaf
    • Port Wine Braised Beef Pot Pie
    • Bunny’s Football Pool Jose Dinner Casserole
    • Susan’s Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb
    • Emerson’s Grilled Butterflied Lamb
    • Sylvia’s Sauteed Quail With Dates
    • Reedy Family Barbecued Spare Ribs
    • Peter Soderberg’s Grilled Brined Pork Chops
    • David’s Chicken Pot Pie
    • Honey Glazed Chicken Thighs
    • Jessica’s Famous Chicken
    • John Pelkan’s Grilled Butterflied Cornish Game Hens
    • Eric’s Chicken Enchilada Casserole
    • Heather’s Butter Poached Chicken
    • Margot’s Buttermilk and Thyme Marinated Chicken Thigh
    • Jonathan’s Middle Eastern Chicken Kabobs
    • Fiona’s Yummy Bermuda Baked Chicken
    • Classic Roast Chicken With White Wine Pan Sauce
    • Wolfgang Puck’s Chicken Marsala With Mushrooms
    • Asian Sesame Chicken Stir Fry
    • The World’s Best Cheese Souffle
    • Grilled Oregano, Lemon & Garlic Chicken Thighs
    • Sauteed Chicken Piccata
  • Seafood
    • Seafood Home
    • Sauteed Sea Scallops With White Wine Cream Sauce
    • Crispy Jumbo Shrimp Scampi
    • Rosemary Shrimp With Parmesan Risotto
    • Shrimp Linguine With Marinara Cream Sauce
    • Mike McGrath’s Cod Provencal
    • David’s Baked Fish Fillets With Buttered Bread Crumbs
    • Lemon Butter Salmon In Foil Packs With Dill Sauce
    • Nantucket Bay Scallops
  • Pizza/Pasta
    • Pizza & Pasta Home
    • Sour Cream Flatbread Pepperoni Pizza
    • David’s Famous Italian Ragu
    • Dinner Party Lasagna
    • Fettuccine Parmesan With Shallots, Pine Nuts & Sun Dried Tomatoes
    • Christa’s Ricotta Gnocchi With Parmesan Cream Sauce
    • Barbara South’s Pappardelle With Fennel, Sausage & Ricotta
    • Norman’s Signature Pesto Sauce on Open Faced Lasagna
  • Side Dishes
    • Side Dishes Home
    • Sweet Summer Corn With Leek & Shallot Butter
    • Baked Summer Tomatoes Au Gratin
    • Grilled Summer Vegetables With Balsamic Glaze
    • Honey Glazed Carrots With Parsley
    • David’s Creamed Spinach
    • David’s Wild Rice With Toasted Pecans & Cranberries
    • Brad’s Cauliflower Bake
    • Vermouth Braised Fennel With Parmesan
    • Potato & Leek Gratin
    • Elsa’s Leek & Gruyere Bread Pudding
    • Pan Seared Brussel Sprouts
    • Homemade Rice Pilaf
    • Heather’s Sauteed Green Beans With Honey Butter & Ginger
  • Bakery
    • Bakery Home
    • Parmesan Thyme Shortbread Biscuits
    • Heather’s Rosemary Focaccia Bread
    • David Genter’s Homemade Olive Bread
    • Sheila Gosling’s Bermuda Banana Bread
    • Clare’s Harvest Spice Muffins
  • Desserts
    • Desserts Home
    • Heather’s Signature Apple Crostata
    • Vienna Squares
    • Christa’s Outrageous Brownies
    • Paula’s Fabulous Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Christa’s Pavlova With Raspberry Coulis
    • Elise’s Ricotta Cheesecake
    • The Duquesne Club’s Famous Macaroons
  • Holiday
    • Holiday Home
    • Thanksgiving Friday Turkey Tetrazzini
    • Paula’s Christmas Eve Manicotti
    • Christmas Hownie Cookies
    • Christa’s Holiday Beef Tenderloin With Bearnaise Sauce
    • Theresa’s Easter Bunny Cake
Menu
  • Breakfast
    • Breakfast Home
    • Heather’s Famous Cinnamon Rolls
    • Sunday Sour Cream Blueberry Pancakes
    • Sarah Hooker’s Family Olympics Breakfast Casserole
    • My Bermudian Mother’s Caramelized Bananas and Bacon
  • Appetizers
    • Appetizers Home
    • Ollie’s Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail With Two Sauces
    • Mike Gilbert’s Roasted Beet Hummus
    • Spring Vegetable Platter With Rolling Rock Dip
    • St. James Clam’s Casino
    • Jeanne Cook’s Hot Artichoke Dip
    • Smoked Salmon With Shallot & Dill Cream Cheese
    • Lobster Cocktail Marie Rose
    • Maine Crab Cocktail Dip
  • Soups
    • Soups Home
    • The Essential Homemade Chicken Stock
    • Dick Viall’s Chilled Melon Soup
    • Summer Gazpacho With Ripe Red Cherries
    • Homemade Tomato Basil Soup
    • Chef King’s Crab Bisque
    • New England Jumbo Shrimp Chowder
    • Hearty Lentil Soup With Cream Sherry
    • The Ultimate Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Broccoli Cheddar Soup
    • Ruthie’s Maine Fish Chowder
    • Barbara Wickwire’s Chilled Pea Soup
  • Salads
    • Salads Home
    • Mediterranean Salad With Sculley House Vinaigrette
    • David’s Special Albacore Tuna Salad
    • Spinach and Bacon Salad With Soy Ginger Dressing
    • Bob Smith’s Signature Tableside Caeser Salad
    • Curried Chicken Salad With Chutney Mayonnaise
    • Jane West’s Famous Bermuda Chicken Salad
    • Howard’s Goat Cheese & Pear Salad
    • Teriyaki Strip Steak Salad
    • Jumbo Shrimp Salad With Pineapple Vinaigrette
  • Sandwiches
    • Sandwiches Home
    • Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwich with Asian Slaw
    • Grilled Honey Lime Chicken Fajita
    • Asian Minced Pork and Lettuce Flatbread Wrap
    • Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich “Croque Monsieur”
    • Ground Lamb Flatbread Gyro with Tzatziki Sauce
    • Lobster Cocktail Marie Rose
    • Margot’s Pulled Pork Sandwich With Two Sauces
  • Main Dishes
    • Main Dishes Home
    • Swedish Meatballs With Buttered Egg Noodles
    • Sweet Sausage Chili
    • D. Sculley’s Perfect Filet Mignon
    • Jeb’s Juicy Gourmet Meatloaf
    • Port Wine Braised Beef Pot Pie
    • Bunny’s Football Pool Jose Dinner Casserole
    • Susan’s Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb
    • Emerson’s Grilled Butterflied Lamb
    • Sylvia’s Sauteed Quail With Dates
    • Reedy Family Barbecued Spare Ribs
    • Peter Soderberg’s Grilled Brined Pork Chops
    • David’s Chicken Pot Pie
    • Honey Glazed Chicken Thighs
    • Jessica’s Famous Chicken
    • John Pelkan’s Grilled Butterflied Cornish Game Hens
    • Eric’s Chicken Enchilada Casserole
    • Heather’s Butter Poached Chicken
    • Margot’s Buttermilk and Thyme Marinated Chicken Thigh
    • Jonathan’s Middle Eastern Chicken Kabobs
    • Fiona’s Yummy Bermuda Baked Chicken
    • Classic Roast Chicken With White Wine Pan Sauce
    • Wolfgang Puck’s Chicken Marsala With Mushrooms
    • Asian Sesame Chicken Stir Fry
    • The World’s Best Cheese Souffle
    • Grilled Oregano, Lemon & Garlic Chicken Thighs
    • Sauteed Chicken Piccata
  • Seafood
    • Seafood Home
    • Sauteed Sea Scallops With White Wine Cream Sauce
    • Crispy Jumbo Shrimp Scampi
    • Rosemary Shrimp With Parmesan Risotto
    • Shrimp Linguine With Marinara Cream Sauce
    • Mike McGrath’s Cod Provencal
    • David’s Baked Fish Fillets With Buttered Bread Crumbs
    • Lemon Butter Salmon In Foil Packs With Dill Sauce
    • Nantucket Bay Scallops
  • Pizza/Pasta
    • Pizza & Pasta Home
    • Sour Cream Flatbread Pepperoni Pizza
    • David’s Famous Italian Ragu
    • Dinner Party Lasagna
    • Fettuccine Parmesan With Shallots, Pine Nuts & Sun Dried Tomatoes
    • Christa’s Ricotta Gnocchi With Parmesan Cream Sauce
    • Barbara South’s Pappardelle With Fennel, Sausage & Ricotta
    • Norman’s Signature Pesto Sauce on Open Faced Lasagna
  • Side Dishes
    • Side Dishes Home
    • Sweet Summer Corn With Leek & Shallot Butter
    • Baked Summer Tomatoes Au Gratin
    • Grilled Summer Vegetables With Balsamic Glaze
    • Honey Glazed Carrots With Parsley
    • David’s Creamed Spinach
    • David’s Wild Rice With Toasted Pecans & Cranberries
    • Brad’s Cauliflower Bake
    • Vermouth Braised Fennel With Parmesan
    • Potato & Leek Gratin
    • Elsa’s Leek & Gruyere Bread Pudding
    • Pan Seared Brussel Sprouts
    • Homemade Rice Pilaf
    • Heather’s Sauteed Green Beans With Honey Butter & Ginger
  • Bakery
    • Bakery Home
    • Parmesan Thyme Shortbread Biscuits
    • Heather’s Rosemary Focaccia Bread
    • David Genter’s Homemade Olive Bread
    • Sheila Gosling’s Bermuda Banana Bread
    • Clare’s Harvest Spice Muffins
  • Desserts
    • Desserts Home
    • Heather’s Signature Apple Crostata
    • Vienna Squares
    • Christa’s Outrageous Brownies
    • Paula’s Fabulous Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Christa’s Pavlova With Raspberry Coulis
    • Elise’s Ricotta Cheesecake
    • The Duquesne Club’s Famous Macaroons
  • Holiday
    • Holiday Home
    • Thanksgiving Friday Turkey Tetrazzini
    • Paula’s Christmas Eve Manicotti
    • Christmas Hownie Cookies
    • Christa’s Holiday Beef Tenderloin With Bearnaise Sauce
    • Theresa’s Easter Bunny Cake

Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich “Croque Monsieur”

SERVES 2

Most people think that the grilled cheese sandwich is exclusively an American tradition. But the French make a very popular and incredibly delicious grilled ham-and-cheese sandwich called Croque Monsieur, literally “Mister Crunch” topped with a golden-brown cheese sauce.

Ingredients

4 slices brioche or whole-grain bread
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup whole milk, heated in a saucepan
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Pinch of grated nutmeg (optional)
4 thin slices premium deli ham
2 cups shredded Gruyère cheese

Directions

Lightly toast the bread and set aside. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Make a béchamel sauce: Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat; sprinkle and stir in the flour with a wooden spoon and cook for about 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and, whisking continuously to form a smooth sauce, slowly pour in the hot milk. Continue stirring and simmering until the sauce has thickened to the consistency of heavy cream, 2 to 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and, if you like, nutmeg.

To assemble the sandwiches, place 2 slices of the toasted bread on the parchment-lined sheet pan. Spread ¼ cup of the béchamel on each of the 2 slices, spreading it to the edges. Top each of the 2 béchamel-spread slices with 2 slices of ham and a quarter of the shredded cheese. Place another slice of toasted bread on top of the cheese and spread another layer of béchamel and another layer of cheese on top of each.

Put the pan in the preheated oven and bake the sandwiches until the cheese has melted and the sauce is bubbling, 8 to 10 minutes. Turn on the broiler and continue cooking, watching carefully, just until the cheese has turned golden brown.

With a spatula, transfer each sandwich to a serving plate, to be eaten with a knife and fork.