BATTLE OF THE CHEESE TOASTIES

A toasted cheese sarnie is a simple, satisfying snack – but adding a few special ingredients can transform it into a food of the gods. We went to Dorset to pit four gourmet gladiators against each other to see who could create the ultimate cheese toastie

WORDS KAREN BARNES PHOTOGRAPHS PAUL MITCHELL FOOD STYLING LIZZIE KAMENETZKY

MEET THE CONTESTANTS

JAMIE MONTGOMERY

Toastie credentials Maker of montgomery’s cheddar and ogleshield, a softer, washed rind cheese with a complex flavour (montgomerycheese.co.uk).

Secret weapon Half a brick with a wooden handle. The brick is heated, then used to flatten the sandwich as it cooks, so it gets heat from both sides.

SASHA MATKEVICH

Toastie credentials Head chef-owner of The Green restaurant in Sherborne, Dorset (greenrestaurant.co.uk). Having grown up in Russia, he’d never made a cheese toastie until the week of our competition.

Secret weapon A forage in the woods and home-pickled mushrooms.

SUE ROSS

Toastie credentials Maker of dorset blue vinny cheese (dorsetblue.com) and festival toastie maker, selling them from a converted horse box.

Secret weapon Grill power – the custom twin-plate Breville toasted sandwich maker she uses at the festivals.

CHARLIE TURNBULL

Toastie credentials Deli owner (turnbullsdeli.com) and finals judge at the World Cheese Awards. Charlie also devised the cheese offering on P&O ferries and is the delicious. cheese expert.

Secret weapon He doesn’t play by the rules.