OMG I would buy The Griddler JUST to make this dinner! Monte Cristos the IGE way - aka…
French Toast Cristos!
French Toast + Monte Cristo = French Toast Cristo! Get it? 
I’ve had the idea for this luxurious ‘wich lurking in the back of my mind since devouring the baby Monte Cristo Sliders at Max Brennan’s in Las Vegas last week (weird, I can’t believe that was just last week – I want to go back to there…)
I took Max’s concept and kicked it up a notch – by making a Monte Cristo with French Toast! I started by laying my Griddler flat (here’s all the ways you can set it) and heating it up to 410 degrees on the “griddle” setting.
Next I whisked together 1 egg, 1 egg white, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and 1/4 teaspoon maple extract in a shallow dish.
Two slices of bread soaked the mixture up,
and were then plopped onto the hot griddle.
When the French Toast was done on one side, I removed the slices to a plate, propped the Griddler lid up, and changed the heat setting to “panini” on medium heat.
I laid one piece of French Toast cooked side up and layered on low-sodium deli turkey & ham, 2 slices of cooked bacon and 1 slice swiss cheese.
Finally, I placed the other slice of French Toast on top, UNcooked side up,
and pressed until golden brown!!!
Wait, it’s gets better…
The pièce de résistance was a dusting of powdered sugar and a wee pot of syrup for dipping – wheee!
Sugar! Bacon! Cheese! French Toast!
What more could you want?
A good dunk in some sweet syrup, that’s what…
Muwahahaha! 
This was everything I needed. I had a rough one today, and this is comfort food’s comfort food. Yep, I said it.
If you want to get even naughtier, Ben recommends sprinkling cinnamon-sugar on the outsides of the bread before cooking. This is coming from the man who hates sweet food for dinner…
Off to go bounce off the walls together for awhile…
~~~~~
Have you ever re-created a restaurant meal? What’s the most memorable restaurant you’ve visited while traveling?
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i’m totally salivating right now, that looks absolutely DELICIOUS!!!
a long time ago i tried to recreate spaghetti factory’s mizithra cheese pasta…how hard could it be right? mizithra cheese, butter, pasta. totally didn’t taste the same
I die! This looks sensational!
You’ve outdone yourself! Love this. I love the griddler- might have to make this next!
I wish I had the creativity to come up with things like this!
Holy Moly yum- I am sitting here waiting to make dinner (blogging instead) and I just read this and my mouth is actually watering. Yum! What a great recipe!
Hard to think of any other dinner than what you’ve got on here tonight! Glad I have a griddler–I’m totally making this!
I need a Griddler. Badly!
This looks amazing!
Definitely need The Griddler… and a Monte Cristo!
omg! YUM!
This French Toast Cristo looks ah-mazing! I have only had a Monte Cristo once, and it was a while ago at Bennigan’s. I loved the sweet and salty combination, as well as the crispy, crunchy bread coupled with the gooey cheese. And at Bennigan’s, instead of maple syrup for dunking, they provide red raspberry preserves! Delicious!
Yum! My parents make their monte cristos similarly. They use french toast, ham, and swiss cheese, dust it with powdered sugar, and then dip it in raspberry/strawberry/cherry jam. It’s delicious! This looks great too!
Thanks IGE! I’m drooling now! And I already ate dinner!
I will be making this, I will!!!
I was wondering how long it would take you to recreate those sliders.
I have recreated Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana.
My favorite meal ever was at Serendipity3 in New York – a sandwich on cinnamon raisin bread with sliced turkey, apple slices, sprouts, brie and thousand island dressing (yum!). Now it’s one of my favorite meals to make at home!
Um…that looks absolutley amazing & right up my alley, absolutley trying soon.
That looks so full of flavor! I don’t think I could stop at one… I would have to try it Ben’s way too!
Mmmmm!
I can’t say that I have ever tried recreating a restaurant meal at home. I probably should, though! That looks delicious!
Can you please explain to me HOW you are not 700pounds!?!? LOL
Oh my yumminess! I can’t wait to try this!
welcome to the treadmill Kristin!!!!
looks delicious though!!!!
The sandwich was only about 500 calories, believe it or not!
Wow, that sandwich looks amazing! I love the powdered sugar on top! So pretty! I really need to get a griddle! There are so many cooking gadgets that I don’t have. I want to try this so bad!
Oh my goodness, this is sinful!!!! Yummy and I bet it’s really filling too!
Um, oh my gosh this looks amazing! Great job!!! I need this now!
Delish! Sad that Grand Piano Bistro is gone, but they did a similar monte cristo only used french toast and then did bacon and pear butter! YUM!
I thought a monte cristo was by nature, a french toast sandwich. what memo did I miss?!?
either way, looks phenom!
It’s usually battered and fried!
This looks yummy! You have a great blog and I really enjoy reading it. I usually go to your blog first when I’m looking for weekly recipes. Thanks again for all your kitchen inspiration.
I recreated BBQ chicken rigatoni that I had at “Chips” in Ankeny. Tasted exactly the same. Was so proud of myself!
That looks freaking AMAZING! Can’t wait to try it out.
I’m not sure what my favorite restaurant on vacation was but my favorite breakfast place was Mothers Bistro in Portland, Oregon. So delicious!! I want to go back right now. Eggs Benedict was amazingggg there.
Next time I go home to Portland I will try this! I enjoy Jakes downtown too! Mmmmm!!!
I tried to recreate the lettice wraps at this Thai place I went to and they turned out awesome! While eating at the restaraunt I payed attention to the flavors and textures and then went home to try a tofu remendition with crunchy PB, Soy, and Flax seeds instead of sesame. It was healthier and WAY delicous!
My most memorable restaurant experience was Beachside Brunch at the Hilton Resort Center for my birthday- it was a surprise from my roomamte and wonderful atmosphere!
Wow, that looks soooo good. Now your giving me ideas. Maybe this will work on my George Foreman grill.
I bet it would!
I am DROOLING over this. I’ve never had a monte christo but I’ve always wanted to try. Looks heavenly.
Wow, that sandwich is prize worthy! Nicely done!
Sweet + salty = OMG. That looks delicious! I might have to break my non meat eating ways and indulge in this sometime soon!
I had something similar to this at Star Bar awhile back, except instead of syrup they served it with a warm fresh raspberry jam. Soooo good!