Recipe of the month: grilled cheese with ‘Larry Gets Lost’

Gooey and finger-friendly, grilled cheese is always a hit. But much more so in the company of Larry, the uber-popular, big-nosed canine star of the Larry Gets Lost picture book series.

In a collaboration with author John Skewes, Larry is making a debut at Four Seasons in this North American West Coast city: “Over his head, a silver train raced, toward a saucer that seemed to be from outer space!”

Has to be Seattle, right? That’s right, Four Seasons Hotel Seattle and our ART Restaurant & Lounge worked with Skewes on a new fun and educational kids’ activity book/children’s menu. For the under-12 set, the menu serves kids dining at our restaurant or in their hotel room.

In honour of Larry, here’s our take on grilled cheese: baked! We use artisan cheese from the venerable Beecher’s, launched by Kurt Beecher Dammeier at Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market in 2003, but any cheese that your kids fancy will do.

While noshing on this and other favourites — Double Noodle Chicken Soup, PB&J, Space Needle Pasta, Soy Hot Dogs and crushed strawberry lemonade — our young diners can follow Larry the lost pup as he wanders through the Emerald City searching for his owner, Pete.

They hit all the sights: Pioneer Square, Seattle Art Museum, the Lake Union houseboats, the Ballard Locks. And there are plenty of time-busters: colouring pages, Seattle icon word searches, mazes, crossword puzzles and connect-the-dots games. Larry also features on special berry lemonade Jones Sodas, a welcome gift (AKA a stuffed-animal Larry) and our ART placemats — a groovy take on the renowned public market.

Baked Beecher’s Cheese Sandwich
2 pieces of whole-wheat bread
4 slices of Beecher’s Reserve Cheese
Egg wash
Panko breadcrumbs
Butter

1. Place two slices of Beecher’s Reserve Cheese between two slices of wheat bread.

2. Bread the sandwich in egg wash and then Panko breadcrumbs.

3. Melt butter in a sauté pan over medium heat. Brown the sandwich on both sides until golden brown. Place in a 350-degree oven on a cookie sheet until the cheese melts. Remove, cool slightly, cut into quarters and arrange on the plate in a line. Garnish as detailed above. Serves one.

Garnish
We use a homemade pickle or chutney. You can also try fresh melon, dill pickles or grapes.

Photos: Samantha Lewis