Well it’s that time of year again…flowers are blooming and the weather is warming up, which can only mean one thing..OK 2..it’s spring time and of course, time for the ultimate of all throw-downs, the competition of all competitions-The Grilled Cheese Invitational, held annually for the past 8 years in L.A. This is a grilled cheese cook-off that is legitimately ridiculous, all the while completely official… even endorsed by Kraft!!

I won’t bore you with all the details you can find on the GCI websitewww.grilledcheeseinvitational.com , such as how it all started long ago in lactose overdosed state in a smoky 90-square foot kitchen and an absurd argument, nor will I retell the actual RULES of said competition, also detailed on the site, but I will share with you my tiny tale of attending GCI2009 and returning a victorious champion…with a trophy. Yup.

I, The Kitchen Mistress, flew from Denver to compete with over 350 “grillers”, some inappropriately costumed folks I might add, though thoroughly entertaining. But I digress…I went. I grilled. I am now one of the few and the proud Grilled Cheese Champions, and I have an obnoxious, though completely legit trophy to prove it. It’s a dude with a glued on grilled cheese sammich, marble and all!

I won 4th place for the Honey Pot category, which is the dessert grilled cheese. *The Sweet Creamy Finish* I believe was the name of the victor: I grilled a deliciously *almost-frozen* cheesecake between two pieces of butter-top white bread, schmeered with a Tahitian vanilla butter (made it myself) and drizzled with a berry coulis, sprinkled with lemon zest. TADAAAAAAAAAA!! (See pic>>drool>>call Mistress for delivery. )

This year, I return, next weekend, to defend my honor and hopefully bring home a trophy that they won’t even allow on the plane. I want to make my glued-dude jealous. I want the 4-footer, baby! 3-tier, extra marble, please. AND, since I can’t have my trusty companion and good luck charm with me this year, I named one of my competing sammiches after him. So here’s to *The Jedi*…my 2010 hopeful…