Mac and cheese? [General]

2009 Nov 11
Are there any great restaurants at which one can get nice traditional mac and cheese? My friend has a wild craving and needs it satisfied!

2009 Nov 11
Hmmm, I'm trying to think of one off the top of my head and I can't, probably because I never order it. It's really easy to make, and I have a killer recipe that I wouldn't mind sharing with you if you feel like making it yourself : ) Sorry, I don't think that helps much ; )

2009 Nov 11
no where is as good as homemade. i'd suggest elgin street diner or their other location on wellington - the diner. both have homemade mac & cheese.

2009 Nov 11
It's not a restaurant per se, it's more of a cheese store, Serious Cheese on Bank St in Old Ottawa South makes a mean mac and cheese. They use penne or something instead of macaroni, but it's damned good.

2009 Nov 13
Amusebouche~ I'd love your mac n' cheese recipe!!!!
TIA!
K.

2009 Nov 14
This is a little late, but I just saw it on the Sir John A. pub menu (it's on Elgin). I have only been twice and have mostly tried apps and drinks, so I don't know what the quality would be like.

2009 Nov 14
Yes, please share the mac-and-cheese recipe with us!

I've made only so-so over the years--the Joy of Cooking recipe is a bit of a dud, perhaps. Someday I will try Thomas Keller's in Bouchon when I think I can afford the wild mushrooms, Bayonne ham, and the mounds of Comte or Emmentaler cheese called for.

I guess the trick really is all that good cheese, though...

2009 Nov 14
The Newport Restaurant used to have a mac-and-cheese, but I haven't been in years and can't guarantee it. You have to really want that kind of food though. Diner...

2009 Nov 14
go to LAGO bar grill @ dow's lake pavillion. they have a mean mac n' cheese with lobster and black truffle, cheese used is a mix of fontina or asiago on cavatapi noodles. and if you enjoy it, say hi to the chef robin bowen for me.

i now replicated this at home, v easy. once substituted the lobster with smoked grilled chicken and it was also the cat's meow.

2009 Nov 15
If you are up for an outing in search of mac and cheese try Bistro Rutherford in Wakefield. Yummy

bistrorutherford.ca

2009 Nov 17
Here you go:

Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

2 tablespoons butter
1 cup cottage cheese (not lowfat!!!!)
2 cups milk (not skim)
1 teaspoon dry mustard
Pinch cayenne
Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound sharp or extra-sharp cheddar cheese, grated
½ pound elbow pasta, uncooked.

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees and position an oven rack in upper third of oven. Use 1 tablespoon butter to butter a 9-inch round or square baking pan.

2. In a blender, purée cottage cheese, milk, mustard, cayenne, nutmeg and salt and pepper together. Reserve ¼ cup grated cheese for topping. In a large bowl, combine remaining grated cheese, milk mixture and uncooked pasta. Pour into prepared pan, cover tightly with foil and bake 30 minutes.

3. Uncover pan, stir gently, sprinkle with reserved cheese and dot with remaining tablespoon butter. Bake, uncovered, 30 minutes more, until browned. Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving.

I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

2009 Nov 19
That recipe sounds awesome I will have to try it. I love all variations of Mac and Cheese.

I have a little different version that I make for my nephews. I thought I would share it with my fellow Foodies. I love it too. Definitely my number one comfort food. It is so easy to make. Maybe we should create a place for favourite recipes to share with each other.

½ pound elbow pasta
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons white flour
2 cups 2% milk
½ teaspoon dry mustard
Pinch chili flakes (or a grated jalapenos)
Pinch freshly grated nutmeg (if desired)
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound of your favourite cheeses, grated (I use a variation of white/orange cheddar, asiago, emmenthal and/or fontina)
½ cup crushed cornflakes + tablespoon of melted butter

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1. Cook the Pasta as directed.

2. In a separate pan, heat butter. Once melted add the flour. Within a minute or two, it will brown and will mix this is known as a 'Roux'. Add the milk and spices. I use Chili flakes, dry mustard, salt, pepper, sometimes I grate jalapenos peppers (instead of chili flakes). Allow to thicken. Take off the stove and mix in the cheese. Mix in the pasta.

3. Transfer the mixture to a baking dish. No need to butter the pan. Take the crushed cornflakes with melted butter and cover the mixture.

4. Bake for 35-40 minutes at 375 degrees in the middle rack. Cooking times may vary depending on your oven.

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NB** Sometimes instead of pasta, I use diced potatoes and it tastes just as delicious. The potatoes do not have to be cooked prior to baking.

I hope anyone who tries this- enjoys it.

Mmmmj



2009 Nov 19
Thanks for both of these recipes, they look great! I will try them because macaroni and cheese is one of the few (okay, the only) food my toddler son will eat with gusto.

I always buy the frozen trays of it (individual size - Michelina's or Stouffer's) but my hubby is v. concerned about the amount of sodium in it. I am too, but it's such an easy meal to give him, along with some cucumbers. In general the sodium level is about 300-400 mg (about 22% of the rdv of sodium for an adult). Obviously this is a lot for a toddler, but I only give it to him occasionally, and then too only about 1/3 of a tray.

I want to make it myself, but it seems to me all the cheeses out there are also super high in sodium. The point of this dish seems to be - lots of cheese! So, how do I make a mac n' cheese that's not super high in sodium? Is it possible to get low sodium cheese? I've looked for it at Loblaws, but no luck.

Any others out there serving this to toddlers? Do you feel comfortable with the level of sodium?

ps. the worst frozen mac n' cheese meal I've ever seen is one made by Nestle and sold at the Quickie Mart. 520 cals for a tray, and 1200 mg of sodium! That's half of the rdv for an adult! Food porn indeed!

pps. I'm also aware that one of the reasons my son likes it so much may be BECAUSE of the very high level of sodium! hee hee.

2009 Nov 19
ms. foodie, there are so many healthier mac and cheese options out there for your toddler than the frozen pans of stuff. what does he like so much? the elbow noodles? the cheese sauce? you can just cook your own elbow noodles (make enough for a few meals) and then do up a quick sauce of cooked milk and shredded cheese (can microwave to make it super fast). sneak is some pureed squash or sweet potato and he'll never know.

for fast and pre-packaged there is a life choices organic mac and cheese - regular or whole wheat. one box covers a few meals, you can control how much cheese powder you use and you can put in some sneaky veggies. it often goes on sale at the grocery store. since the majority of the sodium is in the sauce, you have much more control.
www.lifechoicesfoods.com

i am a mom of a picky toddler too and it can be frustrating after a busy day of work. i have lots of tricks if you need any ideas.

2009 Nov 19
Ms. Foodie you can definitely cut the cheese in my recipe to half the amount. The recipe I wrote up about is for the cheese lover. I actually use about a cup or so especially when my mother is eating it because she is not fond of cheese.

I am not sure if there is low sodium cheese but if there is I don't see why you can't use that for the ceipe I posted.

Play around with it...I change the recipe every time by either different cheeses or spices.


2009 Nov 20
Thanks folks, that is helpful.

HFF, I will definitely be in touch to ask you for quick toddler meal ideas. And I'll look for the Life Choices ones too. I just need a few dishes that require absolutely no preparation on my part (for those really desperate evenings!)

Thanks MmmJ, I will play around with the cheese proportions. But I still don't understand why cheese (in general) is so high in sodium. Does it not have much flavour on its own?

Update: I googled the terms "why salt in cheese" and found this awesome cheese making website: biology.clc.uc.edu

No, I won't try making my own, but it is very interesting to see how it's made.

2009 Nov 20
The best macaroni and cheese I've made was based off of this recipe: www.marthastewart.com . I've only made it once as the cheese cost a small fortune..

As for traditional macaroni and cheese in the city - I can't think of any. I am craving mac and cheese now, especially on a dark, damp, cold day like today.

2009 Nov 20
try this link...i wonder if such a place would work here?

www.macdaddyrestaurants.com

2009 Nov 20
try the red door. Not sure if they make it but they might!