My Quest for the best Mac & Cheese. Part 2 of 3.

Second installment. Nine were included in the previous write-up.  All restaurants included here were recommended on FB.

The pasta was cooked in unsalted water unless otherwise noted. Show me a cookbook that tells you to cook pasta in unsalted water. 

It's called Mac & Cheese for a reason. Macaroni & Cheese. Not random pasta shapes. From Wikipedia: "The word "macaroni" is often used synonymously with elbow-shaped macaroni, as it is the variety most often used in macaroni and cheese recipes".

Here is a link to the first part. 

Local 438 in Stoneham serves up a delicious Buffalo Blue Chicken Mac & Cheese dish for $12.95 or $13.95. The creamy elbow pasta mixed with a five-cheese blend, crispy buffalo chicken tenders, Ritz Doritos/Cheetos crumbs, and mild blue cheese crumbles makes for a mouthwatering meal. The chicken was juicy and generously portioned, blending well with the pasta's creaminess. This version of Buffalo Mac & Cheese is a strong contender for the top spot and is definitely worth trying out.. 9.2/10

At Red Heat Tavern in Wilmington, the Buffalo Chicken Mac N' Cheese for $17.95 is a must-try dish. It features crispy fried buffalo chicken, blue cheese crumbles, and a kettle chip crust. The creamy shell pasta mixed well with the mildly cheesy sauce, and the chicken remained crispy. With the right amount of buffalo sauce and an abundance of blue cheese crumbles, this dish was incredibly delicious and definitely worth trying out. 8.5/10

The 99 Restaurant's BUFFALO CHICKEN MAC & CHEESE dish for $16.45 is worth trying out. Skillet baked cavatappi Mac & Cheese, topped with crispy hand-breaded chicken tossed in Buffalo sauce and drizzled with Sriracha ranch sauce and bleu cheese crumbles. Though the chicken was a bit dry, it had a good amount of buffalo sauce. The creamy and cheesy pasta was delightful, and the blue cheese was mild, making it a great choice for those who prefer less overpowering flavors. Don't miss the warm rustic bread! 8/10

Mac-n-Choose in Tyngsboro offers a fantastic Kickin' Chicken Mac & Cheese dish for $17.79.in Tyngsboro. The medium is good for two meals. There was plenty of (white, non-crispy) chicken, and it was both cheesy and creamy with a nice cheese taste. There was also plenty of buffalo sauce in the mix. The promised blue cheese was Ken's Bleu Cheese dressing. This was, in fact, a very good Buffalo Chicken M&C. I don't think it was Pepper Jack on top, as promised, but some cheese with pepper flakes. It was still very enjoyable and really tasted of cheese. 8.5/10

The Macaroni & Cheese dish at Tony C's in Burlington costs $15.50, and adding Crispy Buffalo Chicken costs $19. Although the pasta was cooked well, the wrong pasta was used. It was not as creamy as expected, but the cheese sauce had a good flavor enhanced by the buffalo sauce. The crispy chicken was tender and tasty. However, considering the price, the serving size was relatively small. Overall, it was an average Mac & Cheese dish that may not be worth the high cost.. 8/10

Public Kitchen in Wakefield offers the Pot of Gold Mac and Cheese for $20, which comes with buttered Ritz cracker crumbs, bacon, and peas for an additional $3. Although it was a generous serving, the pasta was overcooked, and the sauce was thin but tasty. The breadcrumbs were seasoned well, and the sauce thickened up slightly after mixing it in. Overall, it was an average dish that could have been priced lower, around $12. It didn't quite hit the mark in terms of texture and flavor. 7/10

Jon Ryan’s Pub in Tewksbury. Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese (17.69). "Deep-fried Buffalo chicken tenderloins layered between our creamy Mac & Cheese topped with panko crumbs and baked to a golden color". The pasta was cooked perfectly, and the chicken was tender, but not very crispy due to the sauce. The buffalo sauce was mild, but the dish was very creamy and enjoyable. However, there were not many panko crumbs on top. Overall, a very pleasant dish worth trying. 8.5/10

Horseshoe Grille in North Reading's Mac N' Cheese (14.95) lacked creaminess but had quality pasta cooked well with a homemade sherry cream sauce. The Buffalo Chicken (+$6) needed more buffalo sauce. The dish had shredded cheese on top but minimal sauce on the bottom. Although it was good, it lacked the creaminess that would qualify it as a good M&C. The new ownership has room for improvement on this dish.7/10
I'll be back for the Irish Nachos.

Sylvan Street Grille's Buffalo Mac & Cheese in Peabody was an excellent choice. The $17.99 dish features creamy cheese sauce, spicy buffalo chicken, penne pasta, and crumbled blue cheese, topped with buttered cracker crumbs. The pasta was cooked well, and the sauce was deliciously creamy and packed with flavor. The blue cheese crumbles were a standout feature, adding an extra layer of richness to the dish. The ample amount of chicken was tender and juicy, and the buttered cracker crumbs provided a satisfying crunch. Overall, it's an enjoyable dish and highly recommended, and this might be my new M&C favorite. 9.2/10 

Failures.

Fat Cat Restaurant Quincy No Parking, Too Expensive. Too far.
Copper Door in Salem, NH. Recommended but not on the menu.
Garrison's in North Billerica is Just a plain version; I didn't try it.
The Yardhouse in Burlington. It wasn't an M&C but a MAC + CHEESE.
Purple Carrot Bread Co. Lowell. Family size for short money. Great! However, the pasta was soo overcooked that it was just mush. Tried it twice, and the same thing happened.
Tremezzo Pizza Wilmington. Recommended, but not really a dine-in place.

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”

     - Frederick Douglass

My Quest for the best Mac & Cheese. Part 1 of 3.

I started writing down places that I had already tried and places where I suspected that the M&C would be good. Then I asked for recommendations on FB and got a ton of suggestions, and a lot was local to me. Nine are included in this write-up, with 21 more on the list. 

The pasta was cooked in unsalted water unless otherwise noted. Show me a cookbook that tells you to cook pasta in unsalted water.

It's called Mac & Cheese for a reason. Macaroni & Cheese. Not random pasta shapes.
From Wikipedia: "The word "macaroni" is often used synonymously with elbow-shaped macaroni, as it is the variety most often used in macaroni and cheese recipes".

My Diner in Melrose. Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese ($9.95 $12.95 $13.95). Extra Buffalo sauce on the side (+1). The elbow macaroni could have been more al dente, but it wasn't ruined. There was a lot of crispy chicken that was tender and juicy. The sauce was tasty, and I was delighted with my lunch (and dinner 😋). For once, there was enough buffalo sauce in the dish, so I wasted a dollar. No crispy chicken on the weekends. This is my favorite so far, especially for the price. 9/10

Anchor Pub in Beverly. This was an excellent Lobster Mac & Cheese that was creamy and had perfectly cooked pasta.🦞 Smaller portion since the last one. Instead of a full lobster, it was probably just a half. Still very good. One crab cake left in the background. Love this place! Where else can you get an Extra Extra Dry Tanqueray Martini for $6.50 $8.00? 8.5/10

Tavern In the Square in Burlington. The Mac & Cheese used to be $21 after adding bacon and buffalo chicken. It's now $24 with only the buffalo chicken added. It's very good with plenty of chicken and sauce, but even after $10 off, it's not worth the money. After further consideration, this is worth the money. Pro tip: ask for extra buffalo sauce on the side. 9/10 despite the price tag.

The Yardhouse in Burlington. [Mac + Cheese] ($18.99 Adult size). "white truffle, bacon, chicken, crimini, shitake & oyster mushrooms, parmesan, panko cheddar crust". This was a gigantic portion with some strangely shaped pasta. There was plenty of tender chicken and also plenty of white truffle oil. It was tasty, but I expected Mac & Cheese; however, what I got was exactly what the menu said. Pasta with cheese. The normal bechamel sauce was completely absent, so the dish was dry. 5/10

Omar's Bistro in Lexington. Bisto is open Wed-Sun. Go and check out their website, interesting story. Three-Cheese Mac Attack (13). "Toasted Brown Butter Bread Crumb & Parmesan Topping. Add Crispy Buffalo Chicken + 4". Of course I added the chicken. The pasta was perfectly cooked, and they use Barilla pasta. Next time I'll ask for it "Extra Gooey" like the kids' version. The cheese part was very tasty, with excellent cheese. The crispy chicken was tender and juicy. The Buffalo sauce was not very spicy but just pleasant. This was a very good version, even if the serving was on the smaller size. 8.5/10

Millers Tavern in Methuen gives you $20 off during your birthday month. Cast Iron Macaroni and Cheese ($15.49). "Five cheese baked elbow macaroni and cheese, topped with Ritz cracker crumbs. Add Bacon (1.95), Lobster (7.95), Buffalo chicken (3). I added Bacon and Buffalo Chicken. Guess what happens when you add crispy chicken and smother it in the sauce instead of leaving it on top? I expected crispy bacon, but that was not to be. It was just heated up in the sauce. The sauce was tasty with the buffalo seasoning and the blue cheese. Not a bad version at all. 8.5/10

Alchemy in Lynnfield. HERB CRUSTED MAC & CHEESE (16) at @alchemy_lynnfield. "Add rotisserie chicken 6 or pork belly burnt ends 7". Of course I added the pork belly.  The pork belly was excellent, and there was a good amount of tender belly. It does a really great job of hiding in the picture. The M&C was tasty and super creamy with plenty of cheese sauce. The Cavatappi was cooked a perfect al dente. This was really enjoyable, especially with $10 off.  9/10

Olde Magoun's Saloon in Somerville. CAST IRON MAC-N-CHEESE (12). With the add-on buffalo chicken, it's ($17). "Cooked to order and served in a cast iron skillet". This looks like a small serving, but it wasn't. The creamy pasta was cooked perfectly, and the tender buffalo chicken was crispy, even after being sauced. Another excellent dish here. 9.1/10

Pressed Cafe in Burlington. SPICY’ BUFFALO CHICKEN MAC N’ CHEESE ($14.5). "Our House Vermont Cheddar Mac N’ Cheese Tossed With Our House-Made Hot Sauce, Marinated Grilled Chicken, Crumbled Blue Cheese & Ranch Dressing. Topped With Breadcrumbs & Parmesan". With extra buffalo sauce (+.50). The pasta was cooked right, and there was a generous serving. There was an OK amount of grilled chicken, but it was dry. The M&C was very soupy; I would have preferred it to be slightly thicker. Not my type of place, and not too impressed by the food. This one was from the FB recommendations. 7.5/10

Failures.

The Yardhouse in Burlington. It wasn't an M&C but a MAC + CHEESE.
Purple Carrot Bread Co. Lowell. Family size for short money. Great! However, the pasta was soo overcooked that it was just mush. Tried it twice, and the same thing happened.
Tremezzo Pizza Wilmington. Recommended, but not really a dine-in place.

"There is some good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for.”

    - J.R.R. Tolkien

Taipei Gourmet Lexington (New ownership)

Taipei Gourmet in Lexington has reopened under new ownership, and it's a delightful sight. The restaurant has been refreshed with a cleaned patio and a revamped interior, now featuring English translations alongside the handwritten specials. Lunch dishes are attractively priced at $10.95.

On my first visit, I tried the lunch Spicy Fish Fillets ($10.95). No more of that excellent veggie fried rice that Ewa served with the lunches, so white rice it was. This was a perfect Sichuan dish that goes by various names. Crispy Sichuan Fish is one. It was crispy and spicy and absolutely delicious, and it was a generous serving. I asked for extra spicy. I'm not sure if it worked, but I was happy with what I got. The spring roll was crispy and flavorful without being greasy or soggy. The H&S soup was thin but still hit the spot with its comforting and familiar flavors.

I noticed that the restaurant now provides chopsticks as the default eating utensils, which adds to the authentic and traditional Chinese dining experience. Despite the changes, the must-have American/Chinese dishes are still on the menu for those looking for familiar favorites. Delightful start, this. 

During my second visit to Taipei Gourmet in Lexington, I tried the Lunch Boiled Fish Fillets, a classic dish in Sichuan cuisine known for its spicy and flavorful profile. The dish is typically boiled in a spicy broth with Sichuan peppercorns, chili peppers, and other seasonings before being served with vegetables and sometimes noodles. I was excited to see how the restaurant's version would compare. (Thanks ChatGP for the background).

Surprisingly, I received a plate of nicely cooked fish swimming in chili oil, rather than the classic preparation I had expected. While it was spicy, it wasn't overly so, even though I had asked for it to be prepared as the chef would prefer. I did notice some Sichuan peppercorns, but not enough to create the signature numbing sensation. A slight crunch of celery added a nice texture to the dish. This dish is very similar to what Sichuan Gourmet serves, including the raw garlic and spices on top of the dish. My soup today was the egg drop soup, a dish I'm usually not fond of, but the version served at Taipei Gourmet was decent, with plenty of delicate egg ribbons present.

Here's another classic Sichuan dish, Chrispy Chicken in Chili sauce. Every restaurant insists on calling it "in Chili sauce". There is no sauce included in this dish. Regardless, it was an excellent rendering of this classic dish. The chicken was tender, and I ordered it extra spicy. It was nose runny spicy (slightly runny). The crispy chili pods were actually crispy and edible. I'm back to the H&S soup, and my waitress waited for 5 minutes before putting in my lunch order. This is looking like a better and better place!

I asked on a previous visit if the Double Cooked Pork used pork belly and was assured that they did. Thinly sliced pork belly with leeks that still had some texture and a few fermented black beans. Most of the slices were cut into bite-sized pieces. This was delightful! There is an excellent chef in the kitchen.

One of the standout features of this restaurant is its efforts to cater to English-speaking diners, which is, unfortunately a rarity in many establishments. During my recent visit, I noticed an intriguing dish on the specials menu simply called Potatoes with Beef ($18.95), and I recalled asking about its level of spiciness during a previous visit. Despite being informed that it was not spicy, my curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to try it, considering the restaurant's skilled Sichuan chef.

To my surprise, the dish was quite spicy, with expertly cooked potatoes and bell peppers in a rich and well-seasoned broth that included Sichuan Peppercorns. The beef was remarkably tender and flavorful while still having some unappetizing bits attached. I even ventured to try a few pieces with undesirable bits and found them to be tolerable. Overall, I found this dish both tasty and satisfying, a testament to the chef's skills and the restaurant's commitment to offering unique and flavorful options for all patrons.

While Taipei Gourmet offers familiar dishes like General Tso's Chicken, my recent order fell slightly below expectations. The chicken, advertised as dark meat, lacked texture due to excessive tenderization. However, the sauce itself was decent, with the right balance of spiciness and consistency. The disproportionate batter-to-chicken ratio was the only drawback, giving the impression of consuming more batter than chicken. But fear not, for Taipei Gourmet's true prowess lies in its mastery of Sichuan cuisine.

Prepare to be captivated by the unassuming Boiled Fish on the lunch menu. This hidden gem unveils a true Sichuan masterpiece featuring impeccably cooked fish immersed in a vibrant red and fragrant sauce. Topped with a generous heap of ground chili peppers, it delivers a tantalizing spiciness that invigorates without overwhelming the palate. Accompanied by a spring roll begging to be dipped into the fiery chili broth, this unexpected delight showcases that remarkable culinary experiences can be found where they're least expected.

Let's delve into the flavors of the Pork Belly with Preserved Veggies ($18.95) from the specials menu. The pork belly shines with incredible tenderness and delightful taste, delivering a satisfying experience. However, the preserved veggies, hidden beneath the pork belly, disappoint with their soft texture and mild flavor. Anticipating a vibrant crunch and tang reminiscent of a Khao Soi, I yearned for a more pronounced and exciting accompaniment to elevate the dish.

In summary, Taipei Gourmet in Lexington has reopened under new ownership, revealing a refreshed and inviting atmosphere. Focusing on Sichuan cuisine, the restaurant presents a range of dishes, from crispy and spicy to tender and flavorful. While some dishes may have minor shortcomings, the overall experience promises an enchanting culinary journey that'll leave you craving for more.

North America imports a whole lot of chopsticks: about 40 to 50 billion pairs a year.