Meltkraft

Ever since I saw Valley Shepard’s cheese display in Reading Terminal Market, I have
wanted to try their grilled cheese spinoff, MeltKraft. Using locally made cheeses from the creamery, MeltKraft currently has locations in New York City, Rittenhouse and Reading Terminal Market. With high expectations, I set out with my friends to the Rittenhouse location.

We found the store across the street from Shops at Liberty Place. The store itself has a rustic, wooden interior with family-style benches and a video of the farm’s cheese production projected on the wall. From the milk bottle lamps to the cheese display at the counter, MeltKraft’s dedication to honoring the cheese made by its sister company, Valley Shepherd Creamery, is clear.

To me, the ideal grilled cheese oozes strings of gooey, salty cheese when you pick it up. Using this rubric for grilled cheese perfection, the sandwich I ordered, the Valley Thunder stuffed with brisket and mac and cheese, fell short. While the brisket added a nice acidic, smokey flavor to the sandwich and the mac and cheese contributed its creamy texture to each bite, there was not enough cheese in the Valley Thunder to reach grilled cheese nirvana.

The Brielle (brie, cranberry chutney, caramelized onions) and the Classic grilled cheeses, on the other hand, came pretty close to perfect. The Classic, made from three cheeses, filled my mouth with salty, savory cheese with every bite. The best parts were the loose strands of cheese that crisped up on the side of the bread, providing a burst of flavor at the edges of the sandwich. The Brielle was the best sandwich of the three, with a tart sweetness that was balanced by the warm and mild Brie cheese. Again, cheese oozed from the sides, contrasting with the crusty bread.

Despite a few flukes, MeltKraft provides an exceptional grilled cheese experience that honors the cheese they produce at Valley Shepherd Creamery. Come for oozing cheese sandwiches and leave happy, knowing that you supported a group of people that respects the food they make from the bottom of their hearts.

-Benjamin Blanco

PC: Margaret Simon