Quick Summary: Two iconic Masters Tournament recipes: the classic pimento cheese sandwich (frozen in time at $1.50) and the Azalea cocktail with a Georgia peach twist. Includes the entertaining history of “PimentoGate” and the secret recipe drama. No cook | Serves: 6
Jump to: RECIPE | History of the Masters’ Pimento Sandwich | Azalea Cocktail | FAQ
I distinctly remember being mortified as a teenager when I caught a glimpse of the Masters Golf Tournament on TV. Who in the world would wear that awful green jacket to any event that was televised, and why is something as boring as golf on the television anyway?
Now that I am older and have two avid golfers in the family… well I still think the green jacket is pretty awful. Some of the history of the tournament is quite interesting however. Here are some historical tidbits around the food:
The pimento cheese sandwich is as traditional as the green jacket itself, priced at $1.50 and seemingly frozen in time. The recipe below comes from the Junior League of Augusta, Georgia, and it’s likely close to what’s served at the tournament, though the exact formula remains a closely guarded secret.
The Azalea cocktail honors the bushes that bloom all over Augusta during the April tournament. I’ve added peach simple syrup to make it a little more Georgian.
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The Pimento Cheese Sandwich: and “PimentoGate”
As traditional as the green jacket, the Pimento Cheese Sandwich is another one of those beloved, (but odd) icons of the Masters. Priced at $1.50, the sandwich, and its price, seem to be frozen in time.
Legend has it that the original recipe was the secret of an “old man that will not be named”, and when the tournament changed vendors the recipe was effectively recreated by Ted Godfrey, the franchise owner of a restaurant chain called Wife Saver.
Then….the tournament let go of most of the local vendors, including Godfrey’s Wife Saver chain.
Following in the “old man who will not be named” shoes, Mr. Godfrey would not divulge the secret recipe of his recreated pimento sandwich, and the club has had a difficult time replicating the sandwich.
Attempts at recreating the sandwich met with quite a bit of grumbling and some gentle hostility in 2013. If nothing else the Masters is a beacon of tradition, and it just won’t do to have a non-traditional Pimento Cheese Sandwich (it was said to have spice in it!).
Wright Thompson, ESPN magazine writer, noted that, “it feels a little chef-ified to me. There’s some more spice. The true offense is just any sort of change.”
Because it was touted as the original Augusta recipe, I made the version in the recipe below from the cookbook of Junior League of Augusta, Georgia). From the research I could find, it is likely that the sandwich served at the Masters omitted the blue cheese and the Parmesan cheese however.
My favorite golfer actually liked this spread quite a bit, but found it to be much more enjoyable as a topping on a burger rather than soaking into soft Wonder bread.
The Azalea Cocktail
While the Gin and Tonic is considered the official cocktail of the Masters, there are several other cocktails that are traditional to the south and honor the Masters. Here is one of my favorites:
Peach Azalea Cocktail:
- 1 part fresh lime juice
- 1 part canned pineapple juice
- ½ part peach simple syrup
- 2½ parts gin
- Dash of grenadine for color
Combine in a cocktail shaker with ice, shake, and strain into a glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.
The peach simple syrup makes it a little more Georgian. Regular simple syrup works if you don’t have a peach syrup.
How to Make Pimento Cheese Sandwich
The full instructions and ingredient amounts are in the recipe card below. In short:
- Combine white cheddar, yellow sharp cheddar, Parmesan, blue cheese, jarred pimentos, mayonnaise, and Dijon mustard in a food processor.
- Process until smooth. Cover and chill.
- Spread on soft white enriched bread for the classic sandwiche.
More No-Cook Sandwich Recipes
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FAQ
Soft white bread, like Wonder Bread. The sandwich is meant to be simple and unpretentious.
Yes. It keeps refrigerated for up to a week. The flavor improves after a day.
Burger topping, dip for crackers or vegetables, stuffing for celery, topping for grits, or melted into mac and cheese.
The cheese spread itself is low-carb. The bread is not. Serve with vegetables or low-carb crackers for a low-carb option.
The exact recipe is secret. Most versions use sharp cheddar, pimentos, and mayonnaise. The Augusta recipe may be simpler than the Junior League version, which includes blue cheese and Parmesan.
For more spring classics, check out this category of over 30 spring recipes.
Classic Pimento Sandwich for the Masters
Ingredients
- 3 cups shredded white Cheddar Cheese
- 2 cups shredded yellow Sharp Cheddar Cheese
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese
- 4 oz. crumbled blue cheese
- 1 4 oz. jar sliced pimentos
- 1 cup light mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
- 6 Slices Soft white bread
Instructions
- Combine the white Cheddar cheese, yellow Cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, blue cheese, pimentos, mayonnaise and Dijon mustard in a food processor and process until smooth. Remove to a bowl.3 cups shredded white Cheddar Cheese, 2 cups shredded yellow Sharp Cheddar Cheese, 1 cup Parmesan cheese, 4 oz. crumbled blue cheese, 1 4 oz. jar sliced pimentos, 1 cup light mayonnaise, 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
- Cover and chill. Spread on bread to make sandwiches.6 Slices Soft white bread
Video
Notes
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- 1 part lime juice
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- 1 part canned pineapple juice
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- 1/2 part Peach Simple Syrup
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- 2 1/2 parts gin
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- dash of grenadine to color it pink
Nutrition
Is there a drink that can be used with champagne? Can I use vodka instead of gin for the azalea cocktail?
It would be superb with vodka as well as gin!