Cali Chix Got Dat Sticky Icky

I have no idea what this place is really called but it's saved in my phone as "cali chix". It's my 2am drunk dial in Gainesville. A few minutes later and a piping hot tropi-chop styled chicken, rice and corn. A little known secret about this hidden gem is that their Mac 'N Cheese is perfecto!

Unlike most of the dishes on this site that achieve 3+ stars, this one isn't super creamy. In fact it often arrives at perfect eating temperature (a bit above luke warm) and looks more like a bowl of yellow brains. It's an overcooked elbow pasta with some aftermarket cheese blend possessing no distinct quality. The taste is bland and there is no "head" cheese to any topping for that matter. Despite all of this, it makes my top 10 list because it is utterly cravable. Somehow what would be just an average Mac 'N Cheese in the daytime becomes a "must have" at 3am.

[rating:3]

'Uber Mac 'N Cheese' from BriarPatch

Warning: The Uber Mac 'N Cheese is NOT for lightweights.

If this were an average foodie blog I would complain about service, seating and just general mismanagement of Briar Patch in Winter Park, FL. But it's not. Here at Mac 'N Cheese Review we only care about one thing... CHEEEEEEESE. If you want a great dining experience read something else. If you want the LD on the creamy-eemy, then you've come to the right place. Now on to our current reining champion.

The Briar Patch "Uber Mac 'N Cheese"

The casual Mac 'N Cheese eater will scoff at the heavy cheese flavor and strong smell but the Uber Mac 'N Cheese is #1 in my book. A traditional elbow pasta drenched in a low-viscossity melt, the body cheese is strong and tart. There is definitely age to it although I can't identify the exact flavor. It's most certainly a mix NOT containing cheddar--more likely provolone, asiago and a cream base. Briar Patch tops off this decadent dish with twice-baked bread crumbs. I sense that there is a head melt of parmeasean. If you consider yourself a conesour of Mac 'N Cheese, Briar Patch in Winter Park, Florida is a MUST visit. I'm new to this review thing so i forgot to get the price. I'll get better. Proms!

[rating:4.5]

New Feature: Star Ratings!

I just installed a star rating plugin that should help you make better decisions about your mac 'n cheese eating habits. Look for it in my upcoming posts.

Charlie's Truffle Mac Brings the Heat

Most of my reviews are glowing. that's probably because I have an insatiable taste for macaroni and cheese so I tend to lean towards liking it. I'm trying to break the habit so I can be a reliable reviewer. That being said, I do eat some mac n cheese that I don't like but I'm not inspired to review it. Charlie's Truffle Mac N Cheese at Street Car Charlie's in Ybor (Tampa, FL) does not fall into that category. I visit Ybor regularly but only recently found out that Charlie's had an exquisite Mac 'N Cheese. This is the second time I've had it and I have to admit that it wasn't as good as the first but it still lands itself on the Top 10 so far.

The Truffle Mac 'N Cheese is considered a "specialty appetizer" which means that it's not always offered but I've never had a problem getting it. It's served in a ceramic boat, piping hot. The main "body" cheese is very light and at first glance, watered down. As it cooled the cheese thickened. There is definitely more than a hint of "savory" obviously brought by the truffles. Unlike most baked Mac 'N Cheeses, the crispy top was not just bread crumbs. the topping was a tangy blend of heavier cheeses. probably parmesan or asiago. It was baked golden on the top. The portion size was average. Overall, I'd say that Street Car Charlie's Truffle Mac 'N Cheese is a thumbs up and pending an improvement in the consistency of the product I would call it a must have in Florida.

Publix Prepared and Reheated

Publix "gets" prepared foods. Generally speaking the fresh foods in their bakery and the subs in their deli rival, if not compete at a level far and above other chains--particularly supermarkets. The prepared Mac 'N Cheese is usually a little bit cold from sitting under heat lamps far too weak to keep the cheese melty. This evening I decided I would try the packaged version. It's made fresh in the deli but packed in plastic and sold near the fresh packaged cheeses and deli meats.

Preparation instructions are vague but because the sauce is so thick I figured just a quick microwave heat up would do the trick. 4 minutes (breaking twice to stir) was dead on. The cheese was thick and gooey. This isn't a creamy sauce per se. The viscosity would be comparable to a cold casserole style Mac N Cheese but without the baked texture. I would mark it down as average tasting but by far one of the best in the "prepared foods" category. Pics below.