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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. Indulge in all the details and recommendations from our trip to Hawaii in Issue 8, still on stands around town. 
Wild Mushroom Mac and Cheese
September 12, 2018
Category
Appetizers & Sides
Daily Dish
Entrées
Recipes
Travel
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.
