Best Damn Sandwich: Renee B’s Soup, Sandwich and Ice Cream Shop

June 23, 2022 | Matt Conway
mconway@thereminder.com

The Texas toast grilled cheese at Renee B's.
Reminder Publishing photo by Matt Conway

CHICOPEE – Most don’t think much about the unassuming appearance of grilled cheese sandwiches. A straightforward combination between bread and cheese usually reminds people of nostalgic childhood days rather than a rewarding adult entrée. That considered, great cooking, well-resourced ingredients and a thoughtful approach can effectively elevate any tepid concept into an exciting new offering.

At Renee B’s Soup, Sandwich and Ice Cream Shop, the familiar staple receives a mouth-watering redux. The rustic dinning spot sitting at 400 East Main St. offers patrons an assortment of sandwich and dessert options cooked fresh daily. In my last trip, I indulged in the Texas toast grilled cheese.

In my first bite, gone were the memories of “just your average grilled cheese.” Ripping the sandwich in half presents the grilled cheese’s iconic cheese pull, a sensation that is equally rewarding in its savoring visual and delicious when it comes time to bite. Filled with the ooey, gooey allure of melted cheeses and the salty crisp of freshly cooked bacon, Renee B’s interpretation packs a mouthful of flavor in every bite.

It can be easy for a grilled cheese to feature an inconsistent cook between its melted interior and the toasted bread exterior. My sandwich presented clockwork consistency in its bite, capturing the satisfying textural differences between a grilled cheese’s guilty pleasure marriage of tasty ingredients.

The inclusion of two thick slabs of Texas toast act as the icing on the cake. The bread’s buttery, well-seasoned exterior and airy center serve as a scrumptious canvas for the sandwich’s grilled center. I was supposed to wait until arriving at my work meeting to chow down, but the warm aromas radiating from my food bag beckoned for a big bite.

Renee B’s Texas toast grilled cheese sandwich represents a delightful reinvention that should please any local looking for a grown-up grilled cheese.

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