Mac n' Cheese

If you've ever been to an event where Colette's was catering and happened to have the privilege of sampling (possibly by stealing it off of the children's meal) some of our delicious macaroni & cheese, than you too are probably suffering from a mild addiction. We've seen adult men ask if it's possible to have a kids plate rather then their intended "adult" dinner. So in response to this overwhelming love of Colette's famous mac n' cheese we're devoting this blog post to just that!

There's absolutely no reason the adults can't relish in our decadent mac n' cheese at any event. There's nothing that says you cant serve macaroni and cheese at your wedding or even a conference, trust us we checked. And as macaroni and cheese grows in popularity we've come up with our own twists on this classic comfort food that dress it up for any occasion!

 One recipe we've been making for years is our delicious mac n' cheese bites, these fried balls of ooey gooey goodness (which can be made with bacon as well!) are perfect as a tray passed appetizer paired with marinara for dipping.

Presentation plays a large part in taking this kid's meal favorite to an adult's meal time dream.  For instance serving this classic in a martini glass knocks it up a decade or two. For even more fun you can try serving up a Mac n' Cheese Martini Bar, very similar to our  Mashed Potato Martini Bar.

Our chefs also love playing with all of the great flavor combos that lend itself mac n' cheese. This goes far beyond cheddar people.

With smoked gouda, roasted chicken, and peas baked in your mac n' cheese do you really need anything else in life? Or how about a three cheese mac with tomato and bread crumbs on top. It is one of those magical foods that has few limitations.

Something else we really love is individual mac n cheese, baked in ramekins for the perfect serving size. Who wouldn't want someone to place one of these gorgeous things in front of them at dinner.

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 And put those individual mac n' cheeses on a station and you might have a frenzy on your hands(don't worry our servers are used to it)!

For an even greater nostalgic treat combine our other favorite classic, the grilled cheese, with macaroni and cheese and it'll change your life!

And for your mac n' cheese eating delights check out this list of beer pairings courtesy of SeriousEats.com;

Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar: Built on an English brown ale base, this beer has an extra hazelnut kick that really sings with the nutty flavors of the cheddar and gruyere cheese.
New Glarus Fat Squirrel: Another beer with a pronounced hazelnut character, this one has a bit more bitterness and roasted flavor than the Rogue beer. The added English hops give a shout-out to the sage and clear away the sauce.
Oktoberfest/Märzen
Schell's Oktoberfest: A 2010 GABF gold medal winner, this is a beautiful example of the style. Toasty caramel malt brings out the sweetness of the sauce, while the spicy flavors of continental hops offer a tasty counterpoint.
Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen: The original Oktoberfest beer, Paulaner is light with a clean, dry finish. The subtle sweetness enhances the sauce, but really lets the cheese come through.
English Pale Ales
Samuel Smith's India Ale: This classic English IPA is bitter, but balanced and a great partner for cheddar cheese. The flavor-marriage with this dish creates an interesting floral offspring. It's sharp enough to cut through the creamy sauce.
Fuller's ESB: Smooth caramel malt with a balancing blast of bitterness and light, earthy hops make this a delightful mate for mac and cheese. It's another beer that pairs well with cheddar, bringing both sweet and nutty flavors to the table. 

Tell us about your favorite way to serve up mac n' cheese.
Cheers to cheesy goodness!