L.A. HAVENS - Heywood

Heywood: A Grilled Cheese Shoppe

 

HEYWOOD: A GRILLED CHEESE SHOPPE 

3337 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles (Silver Lake)

With the appearance of our first fall-like day last week came my rainy-day craving for a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup. Actually, even when it's not raining there's nothing as comforting as a crisp on the outside, gooey on the inside, triangle of buttery goodness. And no one is as dedicated to craft of the grilled cheese sandwich than Heywood.

Named for John Heywood, an English poet and playwright who extolled the virtues "Of Books and Cheese" in No. 92 of his Epigrams Upon Proverbs, this Gourmet Grilled Cheese Shoppe takes the art of selecting the perfect cheeses for their sandwiches as seriously as a scholar takes his books. Be it the sharp and nutty Swiss Appenzeller, the creamy and mild Italian Fontina or the tangy Point Reyes Blue from Northern California, Heywood prides itself on curating a wide array of flavors to stimulate the palate.

Since opening this summer, Heywood has quickly built a solid reputation in the neighborhood by providing simple yet delicious spins on the American classic. You can create your own sandwich by choosing sourdough, country white or cinnamon raisin ($1 extra) bread and a cheese such as English Cheddar, Cotswold or even a vegan substitute, which also uses vegan butter. You can also add bacon, a fruit/veggie (tomato, avocado or peppers) and an artisan spread like onion confit, pesto or brown mustard.

Instead of building your own, you can order from their list of special sandwiches on the menu as well. If you're a traditionalist, then the Classic or the Heywood might be your best options. Vegans should try Bill Clinton's Epiphany, while spice-lovers should sample the Muy Caliente or Game Changer. The Italian-themed Caprese and Italian Bleu Jeans and the Bon Appetite Brie with triple-creme French brie are très magnifique. My favorite is the Tres Truffle Shuffle with three cheeses (swiss, cheddar and blue) and a dash of truffle salt on country white bread.

Whichever sandwich you choose, each is cooked to order on one of Heywood's sandwich presses and served on a quaint wooden plate with their house-spiced tomato soup and spring mix salad. I love to take my sandwich and dip it into the soup. The sandwiches range in price from $7-$12, and you can also get half a sandwich for $6.50. Heywood is open late (until 3 a.m.) on Fridays and Saturdays, so it's the perfect pit stop on the way home from a night out.

For more information, call (323) 667-1522 or visit heywoodgrilledcheese.com.