Smoked Gouda Croissant with Tarragon Mayonnaise

“When are you making that Gouda sandwich?”

This is the question that Chase has been asking me since we moved to LA. See, in my humble hometown of Hendersonville, North Carolina there is this utterly adorable sandwich place called The Pampered Palate. It’s super tasty and ridiculously cute. On the menu they have a sandwich that is deceptively simple: Smoked Gouda croissant with tarragon mayonnaise. I took Chase there once, ONCE people, and he hasn’t stopped talking about it since that happy event three years ago.

I think that my initial reason for putting off making this sandwich is that I’ve been convinced it would be a disappointment. I mean, it sounds too simple, smoked Gouda, a croissant, and mayo with tarragon added. But this thing was so freakin delicious I couldn’t help but think that there had to be some secret ingredient they weren’t mentioning. Something that made this a sandwich worth talking about three years after eating it. Turns out, it’s just further proof that amazing food doesn’t have to be complicated or use crazy ingredients. I made this in roughly 10 minutes, and after tasting it I immediately remembered  why this sandwich has been in my head all that time.

A word about tarragon – not once have I ever tasted a sauce and thought, “Man, this could really use more tarragon.” I’ve certainly said as much about basil and thyme, but tarragon is a bit foreign to me and not something I would normally think to use. However, I would not for one second consider eating this sandwich without the tarragon mayo.  It is as important, if not more so, as the Gouda cheese. I don’t know that they were thinking over there at the Pampered Palate when they put these ingredients together, but someone deserves a medal.

Smoked Gouda Croissant with Tarragon Mayonnaise

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The original sandwich on the Pampered Palate’s menu calls for sliced tomato, but I’ve omitted it since I’m not a fan of raw tomatoes. Feel free to add it back in.

2 croissants
2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
Smoked Gouda cheese, sliced
Sliced tomato (optional)

Lightly toast the croissants to warm them up. Meanwhile, mix together the tarragon and mayonnaise. Slice the croissants in half and spread the mayo on one side. Line the other side with slices of cheese, (and tomatoes) whatever amount you desire. Get ready to taste and incredible flavor explosion.

Tagged as: Cheese