Make Ahead
Box Car Willie and FriendsĀ Rarebit
Popular on Food52
33 Reviews
AntoniaJames
October 15, 2010
Wow, this is good! To get back to the point about thickening without the bread crumbs . . . I made a barley beurre maniƩ, toasting the flour first. Good move. Did not have fontina, but 4 parts manchego, 1 part smoked gouda and 1 part sharp cheddar worked well instead . . . . used a Franziskaner, thinking of Oktoberfest and the fun I had in Munich a few years ago, about this time. Served the rarebit to Mr. T with yeast biscuits studded with bacon and thyme (recipe to follow), inspired by a Hungarian recipe for crackling biscuits. Roasted cauliflower and Brussels sprouts, and an amazing autumn salad (recipe also to follow) on the side. Dinner is always good here, but tonight, it was exceptional! ;o)
AntoniaJames
October 14, 2010
Mr Hirschfeld, if you were to serve this to someone who could not eat wheat -- but gluten is not a problem -- what would you use instead of the bread crumbs? Making this tonight, I hope. ;o)
thirschfeld
October 14, 2010
I have found a new product, peanut flour that they say is good to thicken things but I have not tried it yet. How do you usually thicken things? Do you have rye crackers? If rye is ok you could crumble them and use them.
AntoniaJames
October 14, 2010
I've seen that peanut flour too and have been thinking about trying it. My usual alternate ingredients for thickening are, depending on the recipe, (i) potato flakes, which I use often in baking bread, so I always have them on hand; (ii) barley flour and (iii) quick oats. Now, rye crackers. That's interesting. I'm not crazy about them for eating, but I can see how they might be great for this, and for other applications. Thanks! And stay tuned . . . will be posting an interesting recipe most likely tomorrow, for something you'll like, to be served with this rarebit. ;o)
lastnightsdinner
August 7, 2010
Your rarebit looks delicious, but I have to say I have flatware envy! Love the silverware - I'm such a geek for that kind of stuff :)
mrslarkin
August 7, 2010
Yum. Thanks for another great recipe, thirschfeld. Will be trying this when my oven gets fixed.
MrsWheelbarrow
August 7, 2010
I just bought the most gorgeous aged fontina from my favorite cheesemaker because this recipe Must Be Made. I dreamt of it last night, Tom. You're brilliant.
Lizthechef
August 7, 2010
This mouth-watering recipe kind of reminds me of your lovely tomato pudding...
thirschfeld
August 7, 2010
I hope you enjoy it and I am glad I am not the only one who dreams of food. LOL
MrsWheelbarrow
August 7, 2010
By the way, have you ever grown Kellogg's Breakfast tomato? That's my favorite.
dymnyno
August 7, 2010
I had a dear friend who used to make rarebit for me....I miss him and his wife. I haven't had it since....your recipe sounds so good (like all your recipes!) that I am going to make yours. And, your photographs are appetizing. (again, as always!)
thirschfeld
August 7, 2010
One of the things I like most about food are the memories it evokes. Very few things have that ability. I hope you enjoy it and thanks.
toast
August 6, 2010
Wisconsin 55's are definitely an heirloom variety.
thirschfeld
August 7, 2010
Thank you toast. It is funny I go to a small nursery near my home and they have a table of heirlooms and then another with the rest of their tomatoes. I buy a couple of heirloom and then, until now, some of what I thought where not. The 55's are always so prolific and somewhat disease resistant that I never questioned that they could be heirloom. I just looked up the variety on Tomatofest and they do list it as an heirloom. I am so glad you pointed this out. Thank you for the correction.
Lizthechef
August 6, 2010
Slamming creative cooks (or any cook on the site) is very un-food52. Chef Tom has inspired me and I always look forward to seeing what he has up his sleeve. He is generous with his praise for those of us struggling to match his beautiful recipes. Bravo, Tom.
Hilarybee
July 30, 2010
This looks so incredible. This could be the recipe to quell any potential revolutions for turning the house into a sauna with my excessive baking.
nannydeb
July 30, 2010
I made this last night and it was fabulous! I cut the recipe in half, like an idiot. Both of us would have eaten another serving!
AntoniaJames
July 29, 2010
Yummmmmm. Have never put lager in rarebit before . . . or used fontina. Everything about this recipe is brilliant. Like all your recipes. So glad you posted this. I'm making it this weekend, maybe changing up the cheese according to what's already in my fridge. Stay tuned . . . . ;o)
thirschfeld
July 30, 2010
You can definitely use what's in the fridge but use a yeasty beer it adds a lot to it.
AntoniaJames
August 4, 2010
What kind of lager did you use, by the way? I'm not sure that what we have on hand is really yeasty enough. (I'm not a beer afficionado, by any stretch of the imagination, so I need a bit of help here . . . . .) Thank you. I'm so looking forward to making this, very likely tomorrow, when both sons are back in town. ;o)
thirschfeld
August 4, 2010
I used Pabst but I any non lite beer would be good. Miller High Life, nothing fancy.
Lizthechef
July 29, 2010
I've been waiting for your recipe, and you did not disappoint me. Thumbs up!
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