gossip girl here

okay maybe not, but we love that show, and ever since Chuck lured Serena into the hotel's kitchen with a grilled cheese with truffles, we've been dying to try it. And it actually exists! You can get it at New York's Palace hotel courtesy of christopher lee. The recipe below is for 4 sandwiches.

8 slices of fresh baked white bread
16 slices of fontina cheese
2 tablespoons sweet butter
2 ounces fresh shaved black winter truffles
salt and pepper, to taste

layer two slices of fontina cheese between two slices of white bread and shave a couple of slices of truffles in the middle of each sandwich; do the same for all four sandwiches. heat a large fry pan over medium heat and add the butter.
When the butter melts, add the sandwiches and cook until the bread is nice and toasted.

just in case you're living in a cave somewhere and haven't ever seen gossip girl, here's the clip of the infamous grilled cheese scene. you know you love it. xoxo.

truffles make the perfect gift

1/4 cup heavy cream
8 oz bittersweet chocolate chips
6 tbsp butter
1/4 cup cocoa

In a saucepan, bring the cream to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate and butter stirring until chocolate is completely melted and well blended. Pour chocolate mixture in a shallow container and refrigerate until firm. Line a container with waxed paper. Dip a melon baller in warm water and scrape it across the surface of the cold truffle mixture to form a 1/2-inch ball. Drop the ball into the cocoa and repeat with the rest of the mixture. Roll the chocolate balls around the cocoa until well coated.

truffle recipes

cognac almond truffles in a tin

1/2 pound chopped bittersweet chocolate
2 tablespoons butter
2 egg yolks
1 tablespoon cognac
3/4 cup toasted sliced almonds

Melt chocolate in the top of a double boiler. Stir in butter until melted. Remove from heat. Whisk in the eggs until glossy. Add cognac and refrigerate until solid. Using a teaspoon scoop small balls of the mixture onto a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Rolls the truffles in almonds. Refrigerate.

1. Drop each truffle into a foil candy cup
2. Layer with tissue paper in a cute tin
3. Wrap a ribbon around the tin