Tulsa Melt Bar Makes Grilled Cheese An Art

Rick Wells, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Sometimes when you're hungry, there's nothing like a grilled cheese. And these grilled cheese sandwiches are nothing like any other you've ever had.

Chef Amanda Simcoe is about to make my lunch At the Sage Rage Melt Bar inside the Sage Culinary Studio in Brookside.

"We haven't turned into anything," said Catherine DeCamp of Sage Culinary Studio.

Catherine DeCamp opened the culinary studio in 2008 primarily to teach kids but also adults to cook. It still does, but she asked a chef friend how to get more out of it. 

"'OK, I'm going to give you my great idea.' What's that? ‘A grilled cheese sandwich shop,'" she said.

You can get a grilled cheese at lots of places, but grilled cheese is all they do here - keeping it simple.

"We'll only do things that are melted with cheese."

The menu has lots of combinations. If you can't find what you like, you can mix and match and make your own.

First they butter the bread, then the basil pesto goes on. That makes the Caprese – it's like the salad only a sandwich. There's fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and onions, all on sourdough bread.

The melt-master really knows her cheeses.

"I teach cheese classes where people learn about different cheeses, and I also teach cheese making," said melt-master Amanda Simcoe.

I'm into cheese eating.

The final step to my Caprese is adding a balsamic glaze.

"We just put right over the top," Amanda said.

It really looks good.

I loved my mom's grilled cheese...but oh baby!

The Melt Bar is open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch. The studio has a schedule of cooking classes and is available for corporate events and parties.