Grilled Cheese With a Purpose
A Chicago Loop institution born at a farmers market in 2010, powered by 25+ local farms and the belief that every sandwich should mean something.
Gayle V's Best Ever Grilled Cheese | Our Story
The Market Moment
In 2010, I was selling Prairie Pure Cheese at Green City Market when I noticed Bennison's Bakery right next to me and Nordic Creamery butter across the way. "Maybe I should make grilled cheese," I thought — and so it began.
A Cheese with a Purpose
Dr. Brian Gerloff partnered with the Aves family's century-old Belvidere dairy to help sustain the farm — and asked me to sell their Butterkäse at market. The demand didn't just sustain the farm; it helped them build a new barn. They are currently using milk from Hildebrandt Family Farm.
A Menu Built on Relationships
Every topping has a story: Duke's beer mustard on "The Duke" on Swiss cheese and ham, Southport Grocery's Good Food Award–winning smoked onion marmalade on "The Southport" with butterkase cheese, Jake's Country Meats pork slow cooked with Broad Shoulders BBQ Sauce and Pinch Markets sweet and sassy pork seasoning for "The Pulled Porker", basil from Smit's Farm to make our house made basil pesto (no nuts in it) on "The Margarita" and to use in our house made Tomato Pesto soup. More than 25 local farmers supply every ingredient (except for the lobster on "The Sebastian" — and I know every one of them by name.
From Booth to Block 37
A farmers market booth grew, then — thanks to loyal customers who kept us alive through a pandemic — into a permanent home at 108 N State Street inside Block 37. We now have a real dining room, live music, and regulars who show up every day/week/month/year.
Still Here, Still Melting
I still work the markets but you will find me at the restaurant in Block 37 every Friday in the summer as well as at the markets on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday and still sign off every interaction the same way: "I hope you love it!" This shop is that original farmers market energy — warm, specific, and rooted in real Chicago.
