The Vancouver Foodster Grilled Cheese Challenge was a success featuring creations from restaurants and food trucks from around greater Vancouver. Each restaurant featured their grilled cheese creation from January 14 – February 6, 2022. Our media judging panel determined the ultimate winners of the challenge, and this was quite the task as each judge who tasted each creation with a rigorous process based on taste, originality/uniqueness and presentation/appearance.
The Winners are:
1st Place:
{105 points}
Crack On Truck
The Take it Easy Royale
Price: $15
Created by: Goose Schwerin
Description: Melty cheddar, topped with One Arrow thick cut bacon, Tomato relish, Bacon jam, Candied jalapenos, a fried egg and shaved parmesan.
Take out,: only available at the truck
Crack On Truck
Mobile locations (tba) schedule can be found on their social media platforms and the street food app.
Instagram @crackonvan
2nd Place:
{103 points}
Moms Grilled Cheese Truck
French Onion Soup Stuffed Meatloaf Grilled Cheese
Price: $13
Created by: The team
Description: -juicy meatloaf stuffed with caramelized onions, smothered in baked gruyere cheese served on fresh sourdough bread, paired with French onion broth for dipping.
Moms Grilled Cheese Truck
Web: https://streetfoodapp.com/vancouver/moms-grilled-cheese
Instagram @momsgrilledcheese
3rd Place:
{99 points}
Melt City Truck
Meat City Melt
Price: $13
Created by Yasmin Ghaffari
Description: Hand maid Italian meatballs slathered in marinara sauce with a slice of pineapple surrounded by jalapeño jack cheese. Serve on fresh sourdough and sprinkled with Parmesan.
Melt City Grilled Cheese
Instagram @meltcity
In the People’s Choice Awards category, the public who tried the Burger creations were the ones who had the opportunity to cast their vote throughout the challenge.
The Winners are:
1st Place People’s Choice:
Crack On Truck
The Take it Easy Royale
Price: $15
Created by: Goose Schwerin
Description: Melty cheddar, topped with One Arrow thick cut bacon, Tomato relish, Bacon jam, Candied jalapenos, a fried egg and shaved parmesan.
Take out,: only available at the truck
Crack On Truck
Mobile locations (tba) schedule can be found on their social media platforms and the street food app.
Instagram @crackonvan
2nd Place People’s Choice:
Moms Grilled Cheese Truck
French Onion Soup Stuffed Meatloaf Grilled Cheese
Price: $13
Created by: The team
Description: -juicy meatloaf stuffed with caramelized onions, smothered in baked gruyere cheese served on fresh sourdough bread, paired with French onion broth for dipping.
Moms Grilled Cheese Truck
Web: https://streetfoodapp.com/vancouver/moms-grilled-cheese
Instagram @momsgrilledcheese
3rd Place People’s Choice:
Salty’s Lobster Shack
Lobster Grilled Cheese
Price: $18.95
Created by: Kyle Broughton, Jared Smith, Jana Szymiczkova
Description: Garlic Butter Brushed Swiss Bakery Sourdough Grilled to Perfection with the most amazing blend of melty, gooey Mozzarella, Aged White Cheddar, Mild American Cheeses. Then of course Butter Poached Saltys Lobster seasoned with an Old Bay Aioli served on a bed of All Dressed or Ketchup Chips. Pure taste bud happiness.
Salty’s Lobster Shack
At East Van Brewing
1675 Venables St, Vancouver
And
Salty’s Lobster Shack Trucks
Web: https://streetfoodapp.com/vancouver/saltys-lobster-shack
Instagram @saltyslobster
Our Media judges for this challenge were: Karina Pangilinan, Maggi Mei and Jay Minter.
Each media judge will have scored the creation with a maximum of 40 points as follows: Overall Taste 20 points, Originality and Uniqueness 10 points, Presentation and Appearance 10 points). The total number of points a cake creation could earn is 120 points.
Thank you to the chefs and establishments that accepted my invitation and featured their grilled cheese sandwiches on the menu for the past few weeks during this challenge.
I encourage you to visit the winning places to try their grilled cheese creations! See the entries here.
By: Richard Wolak