Local Author’s Cookbook Dedicated to Grilled Cheese and Beer

A Hudson Valley man just published his first cookbook and it's all about Grilled Cheese and beer.

Kevin VanBlarcum is a Pine Hill resident who currently works as a brewer for Keegan Ales in Kingston. The University at Albany graduate is also a writer who came up with the idea for his cookbook while dreaming around about his fantasy restaurant.

Van Blarcum used to joke with his friend, and co-author, James "Eddie" Davis, that he was going to open a restaurant called "Cheesy Beerds." The restaurant would serve nothing but  beer and grilled cheese sandwiches. All of the menu items at "Cheesy Beerds" would also have ridiculous names, a homage to the recurring sight gag in each episode of the animated series "Bob's Burgers."

While the restaurant didn't become a reality (yet), it gave way to his fun and irreverent cookbook filled with incredible grilled cheese recipes. Each sandwich is also paired with a different beer that the author painstakingly researched to make sure it perfectly complements each dish. Of course, each one of VanBlarcum's creations also has one of those "punny" names.

"Gooey Lewis and the Blues" is a combination of blue cheese and cheddar surrounding a chicken breast with spinach and cucumber slices. The best beer to drink that with, according to the book, is a strong, hoppy ale like Dogfish Head's "60 Minute IPA."

We were lucky enough to grab a taste of that sandwich, as well as several others from the book, and can attest to the fact that these creations are even more delicious than they look in their mouth watering, full-page photos:

If you're interested in picking up "Grilled Cheese & Beer: Recipes For The Finer Things In Life," It's currently available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and wherever most books are sold.