Marilyn Monroe's Order At Canter's Deli Was No Ordinary Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Canter's Deli is considered one of the best old-school dining spots in Los Angeles, and the diner has even served as a filming location for television programs like "Mad Men" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm." The L.A. delicatessen has been visited by everyone from President Obama to Taylor Swift. And the 95-year-old deli was also beloved by Marilyn Monroe, who frequented Canter's Deli when she was married to playwright Arthur Miller in the 1950s.

While Canter's Deli award-winning pastrami sandwiches are famous, the "Some Like It Hot" actress preferred to order another classic sandwich. Marc Canter, the third-generation owner of Canter's Deli, told Tasting Table that Marilyn was known to order grilled cheese. However, she would always request a few modifications.

"She would like to eat eggs even if she came in the later hours, but she did sometimes request the grilled cheese sandwich — but changed the bread to rye and asked for Swiss cheese, and added grilled tomatoes to it," Canter told Tasting Table in an exclusive email. "It's a really good-tasting sandwich."

In honor of the iconic actress, the Marilyn sandwich is now a permanent fixture at Canter's Deli. Canter's Deli is considered one of the top L.A. delis among residents and tourists alike, but Marilyn also loved many other Los Angeles restaurants, including Barney's Beanery, where she always ordered the chili. She also enjoyed many meals at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where she would sit at her favorite table overlooking the patio and order fish or pasta dishes. 

If you can't make it to Los Angeles to order these signature Marilyn favorites, the good news is that it is easy to replicate her beloved grilled cheese sandwich at home with rye bread, Swiss cheese, and grilled tomatoes (use our tips for making the ultimate grilled cheese here). Or, start your morning like Marilyn by having eggs her way. While we don't know the specifics of Marilyn's egg order at Canter's Deli, in a 1952 interview with Pageant magazine (via Into the Gloss), Marilyn told the reporter she began many mornings with this unusual meal of eggs and milk. 

"Before I take my morning shower, I start warming a cup of milk on the hot plate I keep in my hotel room. When it's hot, I break two raw eggs into the milk, whip them up with a fork, and drink them while I'm dressing," the actress explained.