Host a “build your own Grilled Cheese” bar at your next cookout. Photo via creative commons/flickr.

I’m so blessed to have such a great network of friends in the BBQ Community, and Lester Scanland is a friend I’ve made through my blog and our love for great food! He had this awesome idea to host a “Make Your Own Grilled Cheese Bar” for his last cookout and I asked him if he would be so kind to share the photos/experience with you. I think this is such a fun idea for a cookout, as well as the perfect idea for a tailgate because everyone loves the ability to customize their own grilled cheese! Thanks Lester for this awesome idea! Here is Lester’s post on how to make your own Grilled Cheese bar:

“My wife & I had 2 couples over to our house on Sunday evening.  We all somehow managed babysitters for our combined 11 kids.

I wanted to grill our dinner of course but I wanted to make something different and not just the usual Burgers & Dogs or Chicken & Ribs.  I had a great idea to create a Grilled Cheese Sandwich Bar.  I would allow my guests to create their own grilled cheese sandwiches with a wide variety of selectable ingredients.  Once they decided on their perfect sandwich, using a grill basket, I threw their sandwich on the hot charcoal grill to finish it off with a perfect char taste you can only get from a grill and to perfectly melt  the cheese.

The spread-

What a hit it was.  It was all the rave that evening, into the night and even spilled over to the next morning through our social media connection.

Its so easy to make and its fun for the kid in everyone.

After all, who doesn’t like a good grilled cheese sandwich?!” ~ Lester Scanland

Obtaining nice char marks! Look at all those great ingredients!

Optional Ingredients:

• (Panera) Tomato Basil Bread
• (Panera) 4 Cheese Bread
• Pesto
• Guacamole
• BBQ Sauce
• Cheddar
• Colby Jack
• Provolone
• Swiss
• Bacon
• Shaved NY Strip Steak
• Spinach
• Tomato
• Raw Onions
• Grilled Onions
• Grilled Mushrooms
• Avocado
• Pickles