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If you’re a fan of mac and cheese (because, who isn’t?), make this seasonal version from Brown’s Beach House in Hawaii. The flagship restaurant of the Fairmont Orchid on Hawaii’s Big Island serves a seasonal mac and cheese with many of its entrees. Its most recent version incorporates wild mushrooms and a decadent mornay sauce. Pick up your copy of Issue 14, on stands now, to get the full scoop on our Hawaii travel story. 
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 5 ounces Ditalini pasta
- 2 ounces Maitake mushrooms, roasted
- 2 ounces Shimeji meshrooms, roasted
- 1 ounce Hamakua mushroom, quartered and roasted
- 1 cup Mornay sauce*
Garnish:
- 1/4 cup herb crust*
- 1/4 ounce truffle peelings in olive oil
Mornay sauce:
- 1 gallon whole milk
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 1 each bay leaf
- 1 quart jack cheese, shredded
- 1/2 quart mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 quart parmesan cheese, shredded
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Seasoned flour:
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons turmeric powder
- 8 ounces all-purpose flour
Roux:
- 8 ounces butter
- 8 ounces seasoned flour
Herb crust:
- 1 quart panko
- 1 quart parsley, stems chopped well
Instructions
For herb crust:
- Combine all ingredients and mix until well combined.
- Place on a sheet pan and toast in 350 F oven until crispy.
- Cool and reserve.
For Mornay sauce:
- On low flame, add butter and seasoned flour to a medium pot to make the roux.
- In another pot, add milk, thyme and bay leaf, simmering for 20 minutes.
- Once milk has simmered with herbs, remove herbs and add milk to the roux.
- Stir constantly until well combined and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add cheeses slowly, whisking until combined.
- Cool and reserve.
To assemble:
- Place pasta in a hot water bath.
- Bring Mornay sauce up to a simmer.
- Combine the warmed pasta with the cheese sauce and mix well.
- Place in a soup bowl and garnish with the herb crust.
- Place in a salamander for approximately 30 seconds to toast the crust.
Posted in Daily Dish
