Nicole Kidman Shared Her All-Time Favorite Sandwich

The highly anticipated sequel to Practical Magic is finally in progress, which means culinary treats like the movie’s midnight margaritas have been top of mind for us recently. But if you’ve ever wondered what stars like Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman actually eat and drink in real life, we’ve got you covered.

On a recent episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Kidman talked about, among other things, comfort food. In their discussion, Colbert asked Kidman about her favorite sandwich and her answer was surprisingly simple. 

As part of the show’s Colbert Questionert (pronounced questionnaire), the Oscar winner was asked for her opinion on what is, unequivocally, “the best sandwich.” Kidman replied that while she loves a salad sandwich, it’s not quite her pick for the best sandwich. 

A salad sandwich could mean many things—we’re partial to egg and tuna, especially—but Kidman’s salad sandwich choice consists of beetroot, tomato, lettuce and onion on white bread. The appeal of the lunch, besides the healthiness of eating all those vegetables, is the crunch. The crispness of the vegetables and the softness of the bread make for a nice contrast. Recipes like our Green Goddess Sandwich and Veggie & Hummus Sandwich can help you bring some of that refreshing flavor and texture to your own plate.

But as great as a crunchy salad sandwich is, Kidman’s actual vote for best sandwich is a cheese and tomato toastie. A toastie is a British term that refers to a toasted sandwich like a panini or grilled cheese. (As it turns out, the term is also used in Kidman’s native Australia, where they’re also sometimes called jaffles.)

So for Kidman, the all-time best sandwich is a classic grilled cheese with tomato—which reminds us a bit of our Veggie Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup.

For our purposes, if you’d like to recreate Kidman’s comfort meal, you can prepare your cheese and tomato toastie as you would your favorite grilled cheese. There are nearly infinite permutations when it comes to grilled cheese sandwiches, so everything comes down to preference.

Kidman didn’t specify what kind of cheese she prefers, but the classic grilled cheese tends to have American and/or cheddar cheese. However, any meltable cheese will do and many chefs recommend luscious options like Gruyère, Gouda, havarti or Brie. An Italian twist would include mozzarella and fresh tomatoes, and you could add basil to make it Caprese-style.   

There’s much debate about what to spread on the bread to make the best grilled cheese, but whether you choose mayonnaise, butter or just a little olive oil in the pan, you’re bound to end up with something delicious. Just grab your favorite tender sandwich bread, a juicy slice of tomato and some ooey-gooey cheese, and you’ll be on your way to tasty comfort food.