Single Guy’s Kitchen

Sports and food are undeniably connected.  People sing about peanuts and cracker jacks during the 7th inning stretch and suck down Mint Juleps at the Kentucky Derby.  Tailgating is as much a part of the college football experience as going to the actual game!  I’d say the only thing that makes watching sports more enjoyable is eating good food while watching sports.

Golf is no exception and the biggest golf tournament of them all, The Masters, takes place in none other than my home of Augusta, Ga.  For one week every April the streets are packed, traffic is awful, and restaurants are overcrowded.  Everything in Augusta changes for the Masters.  Local restaurants are known to bring out a special menu full of high priced, specialty items just for the high rolling Masters’ crowd.  Good food doesn’t have to be expensive or shipped across the world to make a name for itself at The Augusta National though.  The simple, Southern pimento cheese sandwich is the most famous thing to eat at the Masters.

Pimento cheese is a sandwich spread made from mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, and pimentos (a pimento is a small chili pepper and is probably best known as the stereotypical red stuffing in an olive) mashed together into a spreadable combination.  Growing up in the South it’s a staple of school lunches and Saturday afternoons.  It’s a very simple sandwich but don’t let that fool you.  The taste is unique and incredibly delicious.  My mom likes them toasted but I prefer them on nice, soft sandwich bread.  When it comes to the Masters they serve them on just plain white bread and sell them for cheap.

On good, soft bread the sandwich comes across as very smooth, light, and creamy.  Besides the Masters and school lunches in the southeast, they are also the quintessential Southern finger sandwiches for everything from an engagement party to afternoon tea.  The close association with the Southern Belle has even led some to refer to the sandwiches as “soft and tender, just like a Southern lady”.

I’m guilty of buying the ready made stuff at the store usually but there are many recipes out there and most seem very simple.  The Augusta National recipe is a secret but here’s a gourmet interpretation.  Paula Deen has her own version too.  The pre-made kind is good though.  You can find it in the deli section near the meats.  If you live in the South, it’s typically produced somewhat local too.  The brand I buy in Augusta is from nearby Camden, SC.

This weekend while you’re enjoying the Masters spectacle consider having a pimento cheese sandwich.  It’s tasty, easy to make, and truly a Masters tradition.