Mullanes

Who knew that macaroni and cheese could be the topic for such a great debate? One that we would settle once and for all at Mullanes. For a group of people from a variety of backgrounds and palettes, there was a variety of preferences. At our first monthly #MacAndCheeseBeforeLove NYC Meetup, we gathered at Mullane’s in Fort Greene, Brooklyn to bond over their love of mac and cheese.

From the beginning, we discovered who the purists were, those who preferred a classic and simple macaroni and cheese and have yet to venture out to any variations, and identified the more adventurous ones, who liked a variety of additions to their mac and cheese, from protein like chicken, shrimp and lobster to vegetables like tomatoes, spinach and jalapeno peppers. From the discussion, we realized just how many ways mac and cheese can be prepared and and which were among the group favorites, from cheese options to crunch and stovetop versus baked.

After identifying that some of our favorites came from places including Max Brenner, Brooklyn Bazaar and Pret a Manger, we worked up enough of an appetite to order mac and cheese and beyond. To offer a variety that would satisfy everyone’s cravings, we went for a plain mac and cheese, one with chicken, one with shrimp and one with buffalo chicken and jalapenos for those who dared to try, and a few extra goodies: sesame ginger wings and calamari.

It was a pleasant surprise that the purists braved to try the other options at Mullanes and enjoyed them. Although everyone didn’t love the buffalo chicken option, it was a hit amongst a select few. The wings were so nice we had to order them twice, and the calamari was a crowd pleaser as well. Sangria was a popular choice that didn’t disappoint, even for the woman who considers herself a sangria snob, so that’s saying a lot.

From travel to NYC neighborhoods, the conversation was rich and the connections were genuine. This casual gathering at Mullanes was a success, and we are looking forward to our next outing. We’d love you to join us. Come on over to our meetup to know when we we’ll be doing mac and cheese again and some of our other outings, like #cocktailsbeforelove, #burgersbeforelove and whatever else our hearts and bellies desire.

So we’d love to know!

• How do you like your mac and cheese?
• Where are your favorite places to indulge in delicious mac?

*Thank you Alissa Nichole for snapping such great shots.