What’s the best grilled cheese sandwich? A grilled cheese sandwich from a specialty cheese shop, of course. Lucy’s Whey, a hole-in-the-wall shop in Chelsea Market (15th & 9th ave) serves up plenty of specialty cheeses along with crackers, spreads and jams to accompany them. And though it’s not blatantly advertised, they have an awesome rotating selection of grilled cheese sandwiches. The most popular pick is the “Prairie Breeze” cheddar (from Milton Creamery in Iowa) with caramelized fig spread. A refreshingly friendly guy behind the counter pressed the sandwich on the spot. That being said, I can guarantee if I surrounded myself with cheese and jams all day I’d be 10x friendlier (and 20x rounder.)

The sandwich was delicious. The Prairie Breeze was creamy and mild, melted together with the not-too-sweet fig spread, all encompassed by wonderfully crusty, chewy bread. It was the perfect balance of savory and sweet, gooey and crusty: everything you need in a grilled cheese sandwich.

(And let’s keep this on the DL, but be sure to snag a free brownie sample at Fat Witch bakery on your way out. Yum.)