A grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of tomato soup on a cold winter day is an experience that will evoke memories of childhood.
On the other hand, a sandwich served on a doughnut and made with mozzarella and mascarpone as well as banana and peanut butter, accompanied by a chunky tomato basil soup with garlic, is likely to create an entirely new memory.
The latter offerings are among the specialties of Tom+Chee, a fast-casual tomato-soup-and-grilled-cheese franchise expected to open its first central Ohio store in Pickerington in late March. It will be located in front of the Marcus Pickerington Cinema near the intersection of state routes 204 and 256.
The original Tom+Chee and several additional restaurants are located in the Cincinnati area, with other stores open in Kentucky, Michigan and New Jersey.
The menu features more than 25 different grilled cheese sandwiches, from the Hippy+Chee (hummus, cucumber, mixed greens, tomato and cheddar on wheat) to the Flying Pig (roasted turkey, bacon, pickles and Gouda on sourdough). Among local franchise owner Ron Freeman’s favorites is the Armagoetta – goetta (sausage mixed with steel-cut oats, a Cincinnati-area favorite), cherry peppers, fried onions, sweet hot mustard and pepperjack on sourdough and rye.
“It is an unbelievable, knock-your-socks-off (sandwich),” Freeman says.
Also on the list are Fancy Grilled Cheese Donuts, each served with a doughnut as the bun and including such offerings as the Mint Summer’s Night (chocolate mint candy, chocolate mascarpone, fresh strawberries and mozzarella), and the new Grilled Cheese + Potato Chips sandwiches, including the Spicy Beef (jalapeno chips, roast beef, hot peppers, and pepperjack and cheddar cheeses on sourdough). Freeman is a big fan of the Blueberry Blue doughnut – blueberry compote, bleu cheese and lemon mascarpone.
“I thought these guys were off their rocker, but when I got served the Blueberry Blue … I thought it was one of the best things that I’ve ever eaten,” he says.
Tom+Chee prides itself on roasting all its own meats and making all its own dressings sauces and spreads, Freeman says, as well as preparing all its own soups daily. The soup line-up always features Classic Tomato, Chunky Tomato Basil and Creamy Tomato Basil alongside seasonal specials such as Blue Cheese Chili and Tomato Gazpacho.
Opening alongside the Pickerington Tom+Chee restaurant, most likely in February, will be the third Gigi’s Cupcakes location in central Ohio. Freeman is also the franchise owner for Gigi’s.
Freeman plans to open a second local Tom+Chee in Hilliard shortly after the first.
Garth Bishop is editor of Pickerington Magazine. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
