HOUSTON – Macaroni and cheese is the humblest of comfort food. In these tough times, it's flying off the store shelves. Boxed macaroni and cheese sales are up 25 percent over the past four years, serving up $802 million annually.
Maybe that’s why upscale restaurants are adding fancy versions of the favorite dish to their menus.
Pappas Steakhouse near the Galleria offers mac and cheese with jumbo lump crab. The dish was created by the Pappas restaurants R & D division, run by Georgea Pappas.
Pappas notes that caterers are also getting into the act.
"I went to a wedding. They had a mac and cheese bar and I took my martini glass and I put my plain macaroni and cheese and went down the line."
Toppings range from bleu cheese to bacon, and more.
Over at Max’s Wine Dive on Washington, they have another upscale version of the kid staple.
"The secret ingredient here is truffles," explained Chef Brian Evans. "We take the things you grew up with, the dishes that you’re familiar with from your childhood, and just sort of make them for an educated palate."
BRC on Shepherd does the same, whipping up pizza, tortilla and Cheez Whiz versions.
But will kids bite on these mac and cheese makeovers?
We assembled our own pint-sized experts for a taste test.
They reviewed Pappas Crab Mac, Pappas Plain Mac., Max’s Truffle Mac and one version not available in restaurants – Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.
The future restaurant critics quickly found their faves. Diego,11, voted for the Crab Mac.
Hunter ,10, liked the plain Mac, and Kate, 10, picked Kraft’s boxed version. At 80 cents a box, she’s a cheap date.
Restaurant versions are pricier. Mac and cheese with truffles is $10 a plate. The crab will cost you $16.95.
"And it’s worth every penny!" quipped Pappas.
