Dice finely two cloves of garlic. Add to 1/2 stick of butter and melt. Cook until the garlic is infused in the butter (not long).
Toast two slices of sourdough bread. Make a sandwich with beef and cheese. Place the cheese next to the bread. Paint one side with garlic butter using a pastry brush. Grill in a skillet on low-medium heat, buttered side down. While grilling, paint the other side of the sandwich. Turn when the bread is grilled, brown but not black. Grill the other side. The cheese should be melted. Remove from heat, cut in half diagonally, and serve.
It is usually convenient to make two sandwiches at a time.
If the bread is grilled and the cheese not melted, microwave them for 15-30 seconds.
Alternative method: Grill the bread as above (painted with garlic butter). Just do the outsides. Make sandwiches and press together. Microwave for 45-60 seconds and serve.
Based on a sandwich served at Holmes and Watson,
Troy, New York.
Jeff Goldsmith,
jeff@gg.caltech.edu,
October 10th, 2000