I have always loved grilled cheese sandwiches. I remember when I was 5, and my friend's mom, Sharon, made us grilled jack cheese on dark wheat bread. I was used to having the classic Kraft singles on some kind of white bread (no, never wonderbread). Sharon's sandwiches looked too healthy but tasted heavenly.

During high school, I would stop late night at Denny's or Edie's Diner in Marina Del Rey for grilled cheese and french fries. I liked to dip my french fries in Thousand Island or Ranch Dressing...and still do

Later I started experimenting with cheese fries. The same friend introduced me to the idea of adding tomatoes to my grilled cheese sandwiches, and I started mixing it up with different types of bread and cheeses.

I haven't had a grilled cheese sandwich in a long time. I am ready to try the expensive gourmet sandwiches from Campanile. How cool is it that they have a night EVERY week devoted to my childhood favorite? I want to kiss the owner, Nancy Silverton (I think she still owns it) even though I have no gayness in my being.

"At Campanile, Thursday's Grilled Cheese Night has practically become an L.A. institution. Who wouldn't line up for a divine croque monsieur topped with a crispy fried egg, or a classic grilled cheese with marinated onions and whole-grain mustard. If that's not enough, there's the inspired autostrada, filled with cured meats, provolone and spicy cherry peppers. If you can't make it here on a Thursday evening, you might be lucky enough to find a pressed creation on the lunch menu, such as the prosciutto-cremini mushroom-Gruyère sandwich with citrus cream. (Sandwiches, $14 to $17.)"

Campanile, 624 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 938-1447.