National Cheese Toast Day

The story

National Cheese Toast Day has its roots in Del Johnson's innovation at Sizzler Family Steak House in 1958. Johnson introduced the original cheese toast, featuring egg bread topped with Parmesan cheese, which has since evolved with variations using different bread types and cheeses. This iconic dish gained international popularity, reaching countries like Australia, China, Japan, and Thailand.

It's crucial to distinguish cheese toast from grilled cheese. Cheese toast involves a single slice of bread with melted cheese on top, while grilled cheese is a sandwich with two slices. Easily melting cheeses like cheddar, Emmental, Fontina, Gouda, Gruyere, Muenster, and Red Leicester are commonly used in making cheese toast.

Creative toppings such as onions, pickles, tomatoes, ketchup, eggs, beans, and herbs can enhance its flavor, making it a versatile dish suitable for various occasions. Sizzler, influenced by Del Johnson, not only popularized cheese toast but also established National Cheese Toast Day in 2015. The celebration includes free samples, giveaways, and events across Sizzler's locations.

Additionally, Sizzler's Tamra Scoggins created ”The Malibu Melt,“ a special lunch sandwich for cheese toast enthusiasts. The journey of cheese toast includes historical milestones like the first appearance of Welsh rarebit in 1725, Del Johnson's introduction in 1958, the creation of the world's largest cheese on toast in 2010, and the establishment of National Cheese Toast Day in 2015.