NervousDad

Recipes 

I prefer Kraft Mac N Cheese over homemade, yeah I know it's odd.

jonp9576

Recipes 

ok, i'm sold. i'll be over for dinner tonight. 6:30 sound good?

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A4J

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Yeah, mac and cheese was a side for us growing up, but once you add protein, it becomes an entree. Actually, now that I think about it, I've had mac and cheese (just plain mac and cheese) for lunch many many times.

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glenn514

Recipes 

With the kids all out of the house, my wife and I enjoy Mac and Cheese with some added proteins as our "entree." One of our favorites is to cut up a ring of kielbasa, "nuke" it to warm it up, and fold it into the pasta and cheese just before serving.

glenn514

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ChshreCat

Recipes 

Try throwing the kielbasa into a pan and frying it a little until it gets browned and a little crispy at the edges before adding it to the mac'n'cheese.

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Evets

Recipes 

TJs' in Paoli, Pa. has it first thing on the menu, even before appetizers. I tasted the Crispy Chipotle Chicken MnC last evening. Check out the draft beer selection while you're at it.
http://www.tjseveryday.com/menu.asp

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milldoggy

Recipes 

Tjs does have good mac, but I still think it is a side dish.

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glenn514

Recipes 

Hey, ChshreCat...thanks for the idea! That DOES sound good! Recently, we've also used some Johnsonville turkey and cheddar sausages...and THAT was yummy, too. But frying the pieces up a bit prior to putting it in the mac 'n cheese does sound even better!

glenn514

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HerbieHowells

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I think you are mischaracterizing both Mr. Bourdain and mac and cheese when you say that they are part of the over the top food trend. But I do think that Mr. Bourdain can be used to explain the trend which brought about mac and cheese as a upscale restaurant entree.

Mr. Bourdain very rarely (if ever) eats bacon wrapped pork loin. He spends most of his time exploring everyday street food and poor man's food in a particular culture. One of the things he looks for is what a local might eat after a long night of drinks if he needed a snack before he went to bed. And that is exactly the kind of dish that mac and cheese is.

I think what you are seeing is comfort food being offered at fancy restaurants, with fancy preparation. The kind of food you would make for yourself or seek out if you were coming home drunk. Ramen; biscuits and gravy; fried chicken; and yes, mac and cheese.

As with any food trend, you are going to see abuses. But consider this. If your favorite chef is capable of making any number of amazing dishes and still reserves a spot for mac and cheese, chances are the mac and cheese is pretty awesome.

ChshreCat

Recipes 

There's a place locally that makes beer brats with Arrogant Bastard. I'm gonna be trying some of those soon.

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