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WFAEats
Welcome to WFAEats — a fun adventure where we explore all things tasty and interesting in the Charlotte food scene. We want to share stories, recipes and culinary escapades and hear about yours!

Love And Grilled Cheese

Flickr/L.Richarz

When I was a sophomore in high school, I had my first boyfriend.  We had just started dating that January, and I was thrilled to have a Valentine.  As the big day approached, I pressed him for what we might be doing for Valentine’s Day.  Each time I asked, he was a bit vague.  I reminded him that Valentine’s Day was one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants, and that if we were going to dinner he might want to think about making a reservation. 

By the time February 14th rolled around, I was more than a little anxious about our plans, and fretful that he may have dropped the ball entirely.  When he picked me up that night, I realized I was wrong to have worried.  He brought me roses and chocolate, but the real surprise came when we got in his van.  

Walker H. Doermann

Still elusive and tight-lipped about where we were going, my boyfriend drove us downtown to one of the fancier local hotels, at which point he got an insulated bag out of the backseat and proceeded to escort me into the hotel bar area in the lobby.  Once inside, he unpacked a glorious picnic of grilled cheese sandwiches and red Kool-Aid. Clearly this boy knew the way to my heart, as grilled cheese was and still is my favorite food of all time.  These sandwiches were classic and delicious, made with white bread, lots of butter and Kraft Singles cheese.  We feasted on sandwiches and bright red beverages until a waitress kicked us out after about fifteen minutes. 

Though the high school relationship did not last, the memory of that thoughtful picnic lives on in my mind, bringing with it a feeling of nostalgia and innocence that only old-fashioned grilled cheeses and Kool-Aid can evoke. 

Walker H. Doermann's story is a winner of our WFAEats Valentine's contest, where we asked for your best food-themed Valentine's story.