Macaroni and cheese is hands down one of my favorite dishes because it combines my two favorite things on the planet: cheese and pasta. It's a classic dish that has transcended the stigma of childhood (I don't know any kid that doesn't get excited when Mom brings out "the blue box" for dinner). Now the all-American mac 'n' cheese has a gourmet makeover brought on by the imaginations of culinary artists. These chefs attempt to go beyond the realm of elbow macaroni and cheddar cheese, introducing new pasta shapes, exotic cheeses like fontina and romano, and other foreign ingredients to create a unique flavor stamp like applewood bacon, red peppers, and jalepenos. Thanks to some readers' suggestions, I have gone around the greater Los Angeles/OC region to find the ultimate macaroni and cheese dish. My research has been highly enjoyable, but the critiquing has been more difficult.The Top 5 Macaroni and Cheese of Southern California:
5. Mac & Cheese - Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles
Various locations in Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Long Beach www.roscoeschickenandwaffles.com
Suggested by Alex Iskander & Phil Lomboy
Roscoe's is known for their hearty soul food. Their mac & cheese is a prime example of that. Made with egg for a thicker texture and lots of buuuuhtter, this home-style recipe is sure to stick to the ribs and induce a 3 hour coma.
4. Uptown Mac & Cheese - Granville
Various locations in Burbank and Glendale
www.granvillecafe.com
Suggested by Kristine Songco
Granville is the next evolutionary step in cafes. They upscale the standard cafe menu items like sandwiches and pasta and turn them into mini gourmet masterpieces, as evidenced in their Uptown Mac & Cheese. Made with rich gruyere and aged cheddar, this version includes asparagus and sweet peas as a light counterbalance to a normally heavy dish.
3. Mac Daddy & Cheese Balls - Fred62
1850 N. Vermont Ave, Los Angeles
www.fred62.com
Suggested by Kevin Hwang
This funky Hollywood diner goes by the motto "dine now, eat later" and has a gigantic menu to prove it. Open 24 hours, this place is perfect for post-show snacks and drunk munchies. Their Mac Daddy & Cheese Balls is an interested take on the dish; they literally turn the mac n cheese into balls, coat them with cheese breadcrumbs, fry them, then sprinkle them with cilantro for a refreshing twist. Paired with good ol' Heinz ketchup, you can't go wrong with Fred's balls.
2. THE Mac 'n' Cheese - Slidebar Rock-n-Roll Cafe
122 E. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton
www.myspace.com/theslidebar
Suggested by Brad Doerges
Slidebar's known to Fullerton residents and college students as the local watering hole, but the regulars come back for their amazing mac 'n' cheese. It's so good it's THE mac 'n' cheese. Featuring a plethora of cheeses like the standard cheddar and jack, as well as more bold varieties like fontina and grana padano. But there's another ingredient that lends to its creamy texture that reminds me of the mac 'n' cheese of my youth: Velveeta. That's not all! It's topped with bread crumbs and broiled to make it like a cheesy gooey casserole.
1. (Mac+Cheese)2 - Yard House
Various locations through Southern California and the U.S.
www.yardhouse.com
Suggested by Leo Camacho
Yard House succeeds in the difficult task of adding a touch of elegance to bar food. Their mac 'n' cheese is no exception. Aptly named (Mac+Cheese)2, it's a delicate balance of castellane pasta, chicken, applewood bacon, wild mushrooms, cheddar, and parmesan cheese. Along with white truffle oil for a warm, buttery note, Yard House's version can be considered the champagne of mac 'n' cheese.
