# Monte Cristo sandwich: Bring It On or Take It Away? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 2, 2010, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monte-cristo-sandwich-bring-it-on-or-take-it-away/559227 "2010-11-02T16:48:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monte-cristo-sandwich-bring-it-on-or-take-it-away/559227/41 "2010-11-03T17:09:33Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > There was a chain restaurant (was it Bennigan’s?) that had a Monte Cristo, and they served it with a side of raspberry jelly. Delicious! It was fried there, but they managed to make it very light and crispy, rather than soggy and heavy. About 1,000 calories too many for me these days, but I have fond memories. Yep. Best one I have ever had was Bennigan’s. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monte-cristo-sandwich-bring-it-on-or-take-it-away/559227/42 "2010-11-03T17:13:49Z")
> [@Labdad](#): > > Holy crap! Who is Anissa?? Anissa Lipitor, for mah colesserol. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monte-cristo-sandwich-bring-it-on-or-take-it-away/559227/43 "2010-11-03T17:42:14Z")
No, no no. A monte cristo is gruyerre and ham, on thick white or challah bread. The whole sandwich has to be dipped in eggwash and fried gently and slowly in butter. Powdered sugar ruins it. It should be completely savory (and a little on the salty side) until you add the seedless red raspberry preserves. Utter heaven. Which is good, because that’s where you’re headed if you eat one more than once per year. . . ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monte-cristo-sandwich-bring-it-on-or-take-it-away/559227/44 "2010-11-03T17:59:11Z")
> [@Labdad](#): > > What **Fenris** says. > > Holy crap! Who is Anissa?? After seeing the photo of the abomination she calls a Monte Cristo, and the comment, “Enjoy hot sandwich with currant or strawberry jelly” :eek:, I wouldn’t trust her instructions for boiling water! It’s actually an unexpected and delicious pairing of sweet and savory. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monte-cristo-sandwich-bring-it-on-or-take-it-away/559227/45 "2010-11-03T21:01:15Z")
“We have enjoyed preparing many of your esoteric dishes. Your Monte Cristo sandwich is a current favorite among the adventurous.” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monte-cristo-sandwich-bring-it-on-or-take-it-away/559227/46 "2010-11-04T00:25:40Z")
I’ve had something that was listed on the menu as a Monte Cristo sandwich, and it was pretty good for cafeteria fare, but it doesn’t seem to have been anything like what’s described here, so I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monte-cristo-sandwich-bring-it-on-or-take-it-away/559227/47 "2010-11-04T19:47:16Z")
It is the swiss cheese that keeps me from being in the “Bring it on!” category. I love everything else about the preparation. I’m only familar with the eggy grilled variety. I do sometimes order them in a place where cheese substitution is not a pain in their neck, but I don’t consider that a true Monte Cristo. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monte-cristo-sandwich-bring-it-on-or-take-it-away/559227/48 "2010-11-04T21:16:39Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Anissa Lipitor, for mah colesserol. _applause_ ---
**Author:** ![Walmarticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Walmarticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walmarticus)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monte-cristo-sandwich-bring-it-on-or-take-it-away/559227/49 "2010-11-04T23:08:43Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > There’s two kinds–the “real” kind (real=original) that’s essentially a grilled sandwich using french toast–those are sublime (and it should be just barely sweet but very eggy). The other kind is dunked in batter and deep-fried. These are disgusting. I thought it was exactly the opposite :eek: They are both good, but the deep fried version with marmalade + french fries + a rag to wipe up the jizz I’ll surely be spooging = omahgawd [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monte-cristo-sandwich-bring-it-on-or-take-it-away/559227.md?page=2)