Spoil mom with Mac and Cheese from Grand Lux Cafe

Is there anything better than a trip to the Grand Lux Cafe? Maybe not. But sometimes we can’t make it to the restaurant (even on Mother’s Day). And this is where their collection of recipes comes into the picture.

See while we love a special moment at the Grand Lux Cafe, the restaurant isn’t necessarily where we live. And on Mother’s Day, a three hour drive just to head to the closest Grand Lux Cafe is not on the menu.

Thankfully, even if we can’t head to the restaurant ourselves, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a delicious dish right off their menu in the comfort of home. And what better way to spoil mom than with a delicious plate of Mac & Cheese? (It doesn’t matter what day it is, there is never a bad time to enjoy Mac & Cheese!)

So how do we make the Macaroni and Cheese Skillet from the Grand Lux Cafe menu? With the help of their recipe collection of course!

How to make the Macaroni and Cheese Skillet from the Grand Lux Cafe at home

Created to serve two people, this dish definitely requires a bit of work. And that is because there are three things you need to make – a cheddar cheese sauce, the actual macaroni and cheese, and buttered breadcrumbs as a toasty topping. Luckily for us, not only did we get a press email with the recipe for us to follow, but the Grand Lux Cafe website also has a recipe section featuring this dish and a few of their other classics (including their “Nashville Hot” Chicken” and a Mango Mule).

But we are here for the Mac & Cheese, so without further ado, here is the recipe straight from the restaurant themselves.

What you need:

"For the Cheddar Cheese Sauce:2 Tbls. Butter2 Tbls. All-Purpose Flour1 cup Whole Milk¼ cup Heavy Cream2 cups Medium Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated¼ tsp. Kosher SaltFor the Butter-Breadcrumb Mix:2 Tbl. Panko Breadcrumbs2 Tbl. Butter, meltedFor the Macaroni and Cheese:8 oz. Macaroni Pasta, Dry/Uncooked (Or try Gemelli Pasta, which is what we use in our restaurants!)1/2 cup Medium Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated1/2 cup Monterey Jack Cheese, grated"

Once you have all of your ingredients, they recommend starting off with the cheese sauce (which makes sense since it is at heart of the dish). And honestly, we may just need to make this cheese sauce for everything! (They also point out that this is part of the recipe that can be made ahead of time, which makes cooking for a crowd easier too.)

What to do:

"For the Cheddar Cheese Sauce:Heat the butter in a small saucepot set over medium-high heat until the butter is completely melted.Add the flour and whisk to incorporate. Cook until the raw flour taste has been cooked away (about 1-1/2 minutes). Do not allow to turn brown. It should remain very light blond in color.Slowly add the whole milk a ¼ cup at a time, whisking to prevent lumps. Then, add the heavy cream while continuing to whisk. Allow the sauce to come to a gentle boil.Lower the heat. Simmer and stir occasionally to avoid burning (about 1 to 2 minutes).Add the grated cheddar cheese and stir to incorporate with a wire whisk until completely melted.Season with salt. Remove from the heat.*For the Butter-Breadcrumb MixIn a small mixing bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs and melted butter. Set Aside.For the Macaroni and CheesePreheat the oven to the “broil” setting (if you do not have a broiler, set your oven to 500°F and leave your oven door slightly cracked open).Cook the macaroni pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set aside the cooked and drained pasta.Place the cooked and drained pasta into the saucepot with the cheddar cheese sauce. Using a rubber spatula, fold to incorporate.Place the macaroni and cheese into a small cast iron skillet or other oven-safe ramekin or small casserole dish. Then, sprinkle the butter-breadcrumb mixture evenly over the macaroni and cheese.Place your macaroni and cheese skillet into the oven until the cheese is melted and the breadcrumbs turn golden brown. Be careful not to burn the breadcrumbs.Remove the macaroni and cheese from the oven. Serve and enjoy!"

With all of these ingredients and these steps, you will be able to make magic happen in the kitchen. And for those of us who can’t make it to a Grand Lux Cafe, for whatever reason, this is a chance to make one of their classic dishes at home.

For us, Macaroni and Cheese is as much a comfort food as it is a decadent entree that anyone can enjoy. For Mother’s Day, we can’t help but think this is a must cook dish.

What do you think Guilty Eaters? Will you be making this Macaroni and Cheese Skillet for yourself? Are you a fan of Grand Lux Cafe too?