Stouffer's

- "Family Size White Cheddar Mac & Cheese" -

*This review features a guest-writer, Nick Cowley.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Presentation: ⭐️
As with any at-home mac and cheese, presentation is not exactly anything to write home about. As anyone who has eaten Stouffer's before would know, it comes in a cardboard container(almost paper, honestly). On a deeper level than aesthetics, it's simply not practical.

Flavour: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Stellar. Who doesn't love Stouffer's?

Creaminess: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Stouffer's starts off delightfully creamy, but dries out slightly as it cools. It's not as bad as others, but could still be better.

Cheesiness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The white cheddar is definitely a bold touch to the classic Stouffer's taste. 

Overall Experience:
Katie: 
When it comes to comfort food that can actually stand on its own as a meal, not much beats Stouffer's.
Nick:
Stouffer's Original holds a special place in my heart; this was the first time that I tried the white cheddar and I was pleasantly surprised. It's safe to say that their mac and cheese is solid across the board.

Product link: https://www.stouffers.com/en/our-dishes/Family-Size-White-Cheddar-Mac-and-Cheese/11446

Pretzel Bell (Ann Arbor, MI)

- "Pretzel-Crusted Mac & Cheese" -

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Presentation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The presentation was okay, but not great. The bacon and pretzel crumbs were unevenly spread out, which bothered me a little bit.

Flavor: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pretty damn great. The Amish cheddar made for a great base of taste, and the pretzel crumbs were dusted with honey mustard for a truly great culinary experience. Plus bacon, everyone likes that (if you don't though, you can choose chicken, steak or nothing at all).

Creaminess: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Very creamy, quite delightful. The sauce seemed to dry out a little bit over the course of eating it, so I wouldn't give it 5 stars.

Cheesiness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Amish cheddar was an excellent base for this mac. It didn't overpower, while still providing the warmth and savory element that only cheese can.

Overall Experience:

I would say that this is one of my favorites in Ann Arbor now. There were so many flavors that it was far from boring, which is pretty important for any restaurant dish. It was also very filling, but not too much food at the same time.

Menu Link: http://thepretzelbell.com

Michelina's

-Michelina's Macaroni and Cheese-

~(Microwavable)~

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Presentation: ⭐️

As much as I personally love Michelina's, the presentation is not stellar even for a microwaveable meal. It's mostly due to the fact that the container is cardboard. For a dish like this, I would use Lean Cuisine as a standard of comparison; its heavier-duty, clear plastic container is pretty nice for something microwaveable.

Flavor: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The flavor of Michelina's is nothing that will knock your socks off, but I am personally very biased towards these microwave dinners. There's something really satisfying about the taste.

Creaminess: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reliably creamy every time. I think that most of the pre-frozen/microwaveable ones seem to be consistently creamy, believe it or not.

Cheesiness: ⭐️⭐️

Just your run-of-the-mill processed cheese, but again, I personally enjoy it regardless.

Overall Experience:

I'd pretend to be unbiased on this, but that would be fake news. Michelina's has always been great comfort food to me, and as simple as it is, it always quite satiating. That being said, it has nothing truly cutting-edge about it so it can't really win more than three stars. 

Product Link: http://www.michelinas.com/products/authentico/macaroni-cheese

Brown Jug (Ann Arbor, MI)

-Katie's Fried Macaroni Cheese Bites- 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Presentation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

It's bar food, precisely what one would expect. No complaints.

Flavor: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

They used original Kraft mac for the filling, so it was pretty tasty but nothing crazy. Ranch helps quite a bit, but I'm sure I don't need to tell you that. I'd tell you that if you're looking for a good mac and cheese bite that you should most certainly order these.

Creaminess: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fairly creamy, a teeny bit on the dry side if I'm being picky (which I am) but definitely still up there. The ranch pulled its weight.

Cheesiness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fairly cheesy, but again, it was just Kraft.

Overall Experience: 

These mac & cheese bites had my name written all over them - literally. (Also - why the menu doesn't say macaroni AND cheese, I do not know). A very nice drinking snack. You also get a good amount of food for what you pay which is hype.

Menu Link: http://www.brownjug-annarbor.com/wp-content/Menu.2017.pdf

Panera Bread

-Panera's Mac & Cheese-

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Presentation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really think that Panera has stepped up their plating lately. It was a pretty aesthetic mac dish. Not really five star worthy because the plate was plastic.

Flavor: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Panera mac has that smooth Vermont cheddar taste that we all know and love. It's great, but not complex enough for five stars, in my humble opinion.

Creaminess: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Perfection. Need I say more?

Cheesiness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

It's a little on the simple side because it uses only Vermont cheddar.

Overall Experience:

Panera is always great, especially with its new and improved aesthetically pleasing dishes. I think it's pretty unanimously enjoyed.

Menu Link: https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/menu-categories/pasta.html#mac-cheese

Zingerman's Delicatessen (Ann Arbor, MI)

- "Squash Mac & Cheese" -

(Seasonal)

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Presentation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Zingerman's presentation is standard deli-style, but is particularly cute and zany in accordance with their overall brand. It's not worth five stars, but it is a pretty good-looking dish.

Flavor: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The mac here is, as one would imagine, a little bit out of the ordinary; it is squash mac and cheese. I was a little nervous about that, but I was pleasantly surprised. The squash is definitely present and adds a touch of sweetness to the dish, but not in an overpowering way. The cheeses (Emmental and Vermont cheddar, I believe) really mellow it out. Additionally, there is a peppery hint added to the mix to really give this mac a nice ~zing~.

Creaminess: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
There wasn't much creaminess to this dish, but I don't think it was a bad thing. The melty cheese provided enough creaminess that the dish wasn't dry or lacking.

Cheesiness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There is quite a savory blend of cheeses in this dish, like I said, I believe it is Emmental and Vermont cheddar, nothing to scoff at. The squash was the more prominent taste in the dish, presumably as it is an unexpected one for mac and cheese as a whole, so the cheese was somewhat of a secondary character here.

Overall Experience: 
Like I said, very pleasantly surprised by this little number. There were numerous flavors and textures (crumbled chips on top for an added crunch, as pictured in the photo) that made this a very satisfying fare. To summarize, this different spin on mac and cheese is a success. 

KFC

- "KFC's Mac and Cheese" -

Rating: ⭐️1/2

Presentation: ⭐️
Not much to say about presentation in this instance; it's fast food, you can't expect more than a styrofoam tub if you want it to make it home safely.

Flavor: ⭐️
This mac had a strangely buttery flavor. It made me acutely aware of the poor dietary choices I was making with every bite. Other than that, it was just a little bland overall.

Creaminess: ⭐️⭐️
As you can see from the photo it was pretty creamy. Although it was a touch too dry for my personal preferences, I think it would satisfy most people in the creaminess department.


Cheesiness: ⭐️
Not too much cheesiness with this mac and cheese. The buttery, salty flavor was really all the flavor was, which I guess could pass for cheesiness to some people. 

Overall Experience:
I would definitely never eat this mac by itself. As a side with fried chicken, it serves its purpose, but that is as far as it goes.

Menu Link: https://www.kfc.com/menu/sides/mac-and-cheese

Sava's (Ann Arbor, MI)

- "Sava's Mac & Cheese" -

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Presentation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
As far as food aesthetics go, this takes home the gold. This presentation could bring a tear to a glass eye.

Flavor: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 
This mac knocks flavor out of the park. There is a hint of smoky flavor from the gouda cheese, in addition to the shredded parmesan and white cheddar cream sauce. Stellar.

Creaminess: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I like a creamier mac, and Sava's satisfies. As you may be able to see from the photo, there is a substantial amount of the white cheddar cream sauce (I like to mix mine up before eating to distribute the cheeses and textures evenly). Great score in the creaminess category.

Cheesiness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gouda, parm, white cheddar; what more could you ask for? These cheeses make for one hell of a tasty dish, and are all immensely well-balanced. 

Overall Experience: 
Let me start by saying that whenever someone asks me what the best mac in town is, I direct them to Sava's. The different flavors and textures in play here are enough to knock your socks off. Additionally, if ambiance is what you're after, you've got it. You can also add lobster, chorizo or broccoli to this dish, so you do you. You'll never regret this gastronomic experience. 

Menu Link:http://www.savasrestaurant.com

Kraft Deluxe

- "Kraft Deluxe Macaroni & Cheese Dinner" -

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Presentation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pretty aesthetic in this case, courtesy of my Nana. In this particular case, I would say the presentation is whatever you make of it.

Flavor: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Reliably flavorful every time. For this meal, I added a few drops of Tabasco, which I would recommend if you like a little oomf.

Creaminess: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tried and true amount of creaminess, I personally like my mac with a little more milk, so I was as happy as a clam.

Cheesiness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Like the flavor, the cheesiness is a constant that you can count on every time. Sometimes (although not in this photo)I toss in a little shredded cheese of some kind for some extra panache. 

Overall Experience: 
Kraft is a staple in American life; it is a staple in my life. Although it is never anything fancy or mind-blowing, it is a tried and true old friend.

Menu Link: Kraft Deluxe Macaroni & Cheese Dinner