I love cheese. I love dairy. However, a few months ago, I decided to go on a dairy-free diet for a health cleanse and to also explore non-dairy substitutes like almond milk with my black tea and coffee, and soy ice cream. On my way home from a long day of errands yesterday, I noticed the Boudin Bakery restaurant near our home had finally opened. Having stuck with a 3 month dairy-free diet without failing, I decided to reward myself with their awesome grilled cheese sandwich.

Boudin’s grilled cheese are made with 2 slices of fresh baked sourdough bread sandwiching your choice of havarti/sharp, havarti/brie or havarti/cheddar cheese. Your sandwich is grilled golden brown with a light coating of powdered parmesan cheese on the outside for some extra goodness.

Boudin makes 5 variations of grilled cheese. These two are my favourite.
– The Great Grilled Cheese – havarti and sharp cheddar
– Grilled Brie with Apples & Fig Jam – havarti, brie, sliced apples and fig jam (pictured here)

Boudin’s grilled cheese sandwiches are a tad pricier than your typical kids’ menu grilled cheese, at $7-$8 USD (as of 2013), but I think they warrant the special indulgence – especially for cheese and bread fans. Their clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl is also very popular.

Hope you’ll have an opportunity to visit one of San Francisco’s oldest establishments – Boudin Bakery (opened since 1849), and indulge on their sourdough bread and grilled cheese sandwiches too.