Who We Are
OUR STORY
A classically trained chef and a dream to change how Nashville thinks about comfort food.
2010
Founded
10×
Nashville's Best Food Truck
4K+
Total Reviews
15+
Years in Nashville
THE GRILLED CHEESERIE
Est. Nashville · 2010
The Founder
A CHEF WITH
SOMETHING TO PROVE
Crystal De Luna-Bogan grew up in a large Mexican-American household in California, where she first fell in love with food at age eight, cooking alongside her grandmother. That early passion sent her to Le Cordon Bleu, where she earned her formal culinary degree.
Her career took her through some of the finest kitchens in the country — Disney's Napa Rose at just 19, the Four Seasons Hotel Beverly Hills, and Clementine Café & Bakery in Century City under chefs whose mentors included culinary legend Nancy Silverton.
After moving to Nashville, Crystal worked under acclaimed Chef Arnold Myint at Cha-Cha. But her vision was always bigger: take the world's most nostalgic, comforting sandwich and bring a fine dining chef's obsession to every single one.
The Origin
STARTED ON
A CRAIGSLIST DREAM
$15K
Truck found on Craigslist
Crystal and Joseph discovered their future food truck listed online, drove all the way to Arkansas to buy it, and had it operational within two months.
Nov 2010
Launched day after Thanksgiving
They chose one of the busiest food days of the year to debut. The timing was bold — and it worked. Nashville was hooked from the very first bite.
"We wanted to prove that grilled cheese could be gourmet — that comfort food didn't have to mean cutting corners. No shortcuts taken in the kitchen. Ever."
Recognition
NASHVILLE NOTICED.
THEN THE NATION DID.
Nashville Scene Best Food Truck
10 consecutive years
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
Food Network — Guy Fieri
Guy's Grocery Games
Food Network — DDD All-Star
Eat St.
Cooking Channel
#7 Best Food Truck in America
The Daily Meal · 2015
#3 Most Influential Food Truck
Mobile-Cuisine · National Ranking
The Journey
15 YEARS IN THE MAKING
The Launch
Found a $15k food truck on Craigslist, drove to Arkansas to pick it up, and launched the day after Thanksgiving — with 1,000 Twitter followers already waiting.
Food Network
Featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Fieri declared: "Not only are these guys doing good grilled cheeses, but they're taking grilled cheeses to a different level!"
#7 in America
Ranked #7 on The Daily Meal's 101 Best Food Trucks in America and #3 on Mobile-Cuisine's Most Influential Food Trucks nationally.
Chairman's Award
Awarded the Nashville Business Incubation Center's Chairman's Award for Small Businesses — recognizing excellence in Nashville's entrepreneurial community.
Brick & Mortar
Opened the first brick-and-mortar restaurant in Hillsboro Village, bringing the gourmet melt experience indoors for the first time.
East Nashville
Returned to their roots, opening at Hunters Station Food Hall at 975 Main St in the heart of East Nashville.
Café Cheeserie
Launched Café Cheeserie inside The Frist Art Museum — a fromage-focused bistro bringing the same quality and creativity to the museum dining experience.
Our Philosophy
FOOD MEMORIES
ARE THE MOST POWERFUL
Crystal's culinary philosophy is simple but uncompromising: let the seasons lead. She sources ingredients from farmers' markets without a predetermined menu, allowing fresh, local produce to inspire every dish.
The Grilled Cheeserie operates with a zero-waste commitment — all packaging is 100% compostable — and a belief that great food should be accessible without sacrificing quality or conscience.
Joseph brings the operational precision and steady hand that turns Crystal's creative vision into a business that's stood the test of time. Together, they remain fully involved every day to preserve the culture, quality, and community that built this brand.
Seasonal Sourcing
Menu inspired by what's fresh at the farmers' market — no shortcuts.
100% Compostable
Zero-waste commitment in every aspect of the operation.
Fine Dining Approach
Le Cordon Bleu precision applied to your most comforting food.
Nashville Rooted
Born here. Built here. Still here — 15+ years and counting.
The Faces Behind It All
MEET THE BOGANS
Crystal De Luna-Bogan
Founder & Executive Chef
Le Cordon Bleu graduate · Started cooking at age 8 · Alumna of Disney's Napa Rose & the Four Seasons Beverly Hills
Emotionally driven, seasonally inspired, and proudly self-described as a "cheese nerd." Leads every menu decision to this day.
Joseph Bogan
Co-Founder & Operations
The analytical, operational force behind the brand. Where Crystal leads with heart, Joseph leads with precision — together they cover every angle.
Still fully involved on a day-to-day basis, maintaining culture, quality, and the guest experience that earned Nashville's loyalty.
Come taste what 15 years of obsession looks like.