A Tale of Two Mac-n-Cheeses
One of the things that I’m beginning to realize about this town — or possibly this part of the country — is that macaroni and cheese gets the respect it deserves. I’m glad. It’s primo comfort food, and I’ve always resented that it only ever appeared in the “10 and under” section of the menus. In this neck of the woods, however, I frequently see it as a side dish; I can order it as an honest adult, without having to place a sippy cup on the table as a red herring to bamboozle the wait staff.
In fact, if I’m reading the signs correctly, mac-n-cheese is so established that people have been forced to be creative. Five Point Café deep fries m&c triangles and serves them with marinara. I never knew that fried cheese really needed a little touch of pasta, but … oh yeah. Mmm. I liked.
Last night I saw that The Purple Café has a menu item: mac-n-cheese laced with lobster. Whoa.
I think I can throw out my decoy sippy cup.
Seastar Restuarant & Raw Bar in Bellevue has a Lobster Macaroni & Cheese on the menu (occasionally) that would be my last meal if I was on death row. It’s simply unbelievable. And it’s a good thing it is because I think it’s $28.00.
Head down to Beechers (http://www.beechershandmadecheese.com/) in Pike Place Market (or look for Beecher’s stuff in many local supermarkets). They make two flavors of Mac ‘n Cheese. Their regular is rich enough to clog your arteries as it cooks, while the Mariachi is spicy and slightly less oily. Though in this case, oily is good.
Mmmmmm.
Blue Water Bistro has an excellent Dungeness Mac and Cheese, and the mac and cheese at the Deluxe is pretty good also.
Yay! I was hoping people would post about other mac-n-cheese places!
Sounds like you missed Danielle Custer’s amazing mac and cheese with lobster and tarragon at 722 Pine, which has tragically disappeared (replaced by a Ruth’s Chris Steak house or some such nonsense). That was divine.
Cafe Venus makes a plate of M&C that will reduce you to tears. Seriously, there’s a ton of garlic in it. You can feel the plate coming a mile away. It’s beautiful.
Dang, I’ve been paying way too much for Lobster Mac & Cheese. This has been a very useful string of comments.
i seem to end up at beecher’s at least once a week for lunch. highly recommended. if you also look beyond the mac & cheese, their flagship sandwich (same cheese as the mac, plus basil & tomato) is wonderful.
though i recall the icon grill making a great mac & cheese, it’s been a few years since i’ve been there.
There’s good Mac Y Cheese in west Seattle at
West 5 and also Blackbird…