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Beecher's Handmade Cheese
Categories: Food Specialty Food Cheese Shops Restaurants Sandwiches Cheese Shops, Sandwiches [Edit]
1600 Pike Pl(between Pine St & Post Aly)
Seattle, WA 98101
Neighborhood: Downtown
(206) 956-1964
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 9 am - 6 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Touristy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
651 reviews for Beecher's Handmade Cheese
Review Highlights
"I absolutely looooved the world's best mac & cheese."
(in 39 reviews)
"I always come here when I visit Pike Place Market."
(in 53 reviews)
"Also amazing but underrated is their CHEESE CURDS."
(in 123 reviews)
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651 reviews in English
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Review from Jonathan Y.
Irvine, CA
1/31/2012
Oh my cheese oh my cheese. I am unique, gifted with special powers not unlike Spiderman. Man...but SPIDER? Asian...but LACTOSE TOLERANT? With great power comes great responsibility.
This was the highlight of my Pike's Place adventure. I took a gajillion iphone pics that no one will ever see of the cheese churning bathtub thing. I stood in line multiple times to sample a variety of different cheeses, from sharp, spicy cheddar to sweetened honey cheese to amazing earthy goat cheeses. The service was more than friendly, and the curd samplers on the side just became munchies to pass the time as I waited in line.
I finally know what curds are now, btw. Little Miss Muffet? WTF is "whey" though? I imagine they are like grits. I like chicken and waffles better.
I bought a lot of cheese here. Tuffet. -
Review from Janet M.
2/9/2012
Okay, so here's what I have to say about this.
White cheddar cheese is a perfect food. Amen.
The Market in Seattle has a lot to do, watching cute men throw fish, getting the dumpling thingys, all manner of things to buy and consume... but go watch the cheese.
It's cool.
I have been in the market and watched them make cheese and eaten the mac and cheese and brought cheese home.You have to bring some home!
My brother brought me cheese to Portland (unbidden even) and had me make the mac and cheese (the recipe is on their website, BTW). That was the bomb. If you make it yourself you can tweak it a little bit, up the seasoning, etc. YUM.
I'm so glad our local market carries the cheese...I can get it at QFC, Whole Foods, or New Seasons. ( usually for a little less at QFC believe it or not).
I like Tillamook Cheese Factory and their white cheddar, too, of course, I'm a loyal Oregonian... but Beecher's?? good stuff. -
Review from Maria C.
Get the Jack cheese!!!
I've been getting into more cheeses nowadays to enjoy with my wines. I recall visiting this place the last time I was in town, but this time I have a more of an appreciation.
When you walk in, you can see the employees making the cheese. There are plentiful samples and you can even request a sample of their infamous mac n cheese (which I didn't care for).
Since I was traveling, I asked what the best cheese was given the circumstance. They mentioned any of the wrapped cheeses would do best although I really wanted to bring home the honey cheese.
They are more than accommodating to samples so just ask! I ended up buying a block of Jack cheese ($7). I was told that you can buy the honey cheese at Whole Foods.
Delicious with Trader Joe's crackers and a bottle of nice wine! -
Review from Dante W.
Daly City, CA
1/23/2012
Mac & cheese is the staple of every Midwest kid's diet growing up. We're not talking the box kind but homemade from the heart. That's why I just had to try this place after all the reviews I saw on Yelp so I could be taken back unfortunately the more I was taken back the more I realized it didn't measure up.
Let me say this place is nice with sample cheeses, friendly service, and you can even see how cheese is made while eating your food. However the famous mac & cheese to me was ok to average. I REALLY wanted to love it like everyone else but nothing really stood out. It seemed to lack a little more flavor for my taste and maybe it sat for a little bit since it seemed a bit dry.
Overall, my friend and I both thought the same thing that while it was ok the best experience was sampling the cheeses and seeing how cheese was made. The 3 stars was mostly for the overall experience rather than the mac & cheese. If you go into the place for those reasons as well then you will enjoy the visit more, if you are going just for the mac & cheese like we did you might leave disappointed. -
Review from Eric R.
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
MMMMMMMmmmmmmmm. Amazing cheeses!!! My insignificant other loves cheese, I mean loves it and this place delivered.
We loved the honey cheese and the pepper cheese. Good to take on the plane back to LA.
P.S. They have awesome seats that are milk jugs. -
Review from Allan B.
Monterey Park, CA
2/7/2012
Seriously the best mac and cheese I've ever had. Coming to Pike's, all my friends were raving about Piroshky, but I thought Beecher's was definitely more noteworthy. I don't even think I can adequately describe it, but their mac and cheese is composed of the Flagship (aged for a year) mixed with their Just Jack. They make the cheese right there in the store. I also had the spicy variation, kind of like a more southwestern type thing that was good as well, but definitely didn't hold a candle to the original mac and cheese. If you like cheese at all, Beechers is well worth the visit.
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Review from Carolyn K.
San Jose, CA
1/16/2012 1 photo
The best place to enjoy the history of cheese whilst gobbling it up with your mouth.
I don't like cheese that much and am not really a fan of mac 'n cheese (yaknow, typical asian ish), but Beechers won me over in the biggest way. I had the absolute pleasure of eating their famous mac 'n cheese two times during my Seattle trip. The cheese thickly coats the perfectly chewy pasta. The flavor is sharp and the texture is perfectly creamy and gooey.
Both times, I was fork fighting with my friends to get most of the bowl to myself. Sit on the milk jug seats, stare at the vats of soon-to-be-cheese, and take lots of pictures of yourself eating delicious goodies like a lady/gentleman. -
Review from Allison S.
Hacienda Heights, CA
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
It's a cheese-lover's dream to come to Beecher's. The sheer amount of cheese and cheese-related stuff they have is amazing ( ex. I saw a DIY cheese kit). I was a little overwhelmed, but a local recommended their original and a Jamaican cheese (a little spicy but mostly smokey). Delicious!
Listed in: Destination: Seattle
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Review from Lins G.
Long Beach, CA
2/6/2012
The Mac n cheese is amazing and so is the crab panini. Make sure to ask for a sample of a cheese curd. And stay to watch the cheese being made- fascinating!
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Review from Mal C.
2/3/2012
So this place was busy - I mean crowded(!) with a tiny seating area. The kind of place that makes me feel like I'm PMSing even when I'm not. Their mac n cheese was really good as were the cheese curds. Skip the Breadzel. In the end, I just wanted to escape the people around me -- like those curds you see sloshing out of the tank as they're stirred. Fun to watch the cheese man work those curds. So I'd check out the cheese-making, and then get some cheese to go!
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Review from Molly M.
Queen Anne, Seattle, WA
2/5/2012
Amazing Cheese, Great Sandwiches... Recommend the Crab. Fresh and Local.
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Review from Michael U.
Dublin, OH
1/7/2012
Beginning our exploration of the market in a slight downpour with my aunt still in a walking boot secondary to her slowly healing Achille's it was rather quickly that we realized there is rarely a time when Pike's Place is not crowded - particularly just after noon immediately following a major holiday - but braving the crowds our first stop would be to Beecher's Handmade Cheese, perhaps the most crowded of all the shops save for the Original Starbucks.
Having done my standard (and exhaustive) degree of research before arriving and knowing that we would be sampling the market substantially it would not be long before we entered the queue at Beecher's and with the wait approximately fifteen minutes we were treated to squeaky cheese curds, house made fennel crackers, and samples of Flagship as we waited. With each sample tasty but weary of stomach capacity at the start of a long day and without any open space to sit on Beecher's clever milk-jug stools when we finally did arrive at the front of the line we were greeted by a friendly young woman named Sophie who took our order, filled a small cup of macaroni and cheese, and told us it would be approximately ten more minutes before our sandwich would be ready.
With the "world's best" Mac & Cheese featuring Flagship, Just Jack, Soft Penne, and Spices including pepper and paprika now in hand along with four forks it would not be long before our tasting began and true to the rumors the pasta was delicious - a lovely blend of smooth textures and sharp flavors punctuating each bite and although perhaps not the best Macaroni and Cheese any of us had ever tasted (actually, not even as good as that at The Coterie Room the night prior) a very impressive dish.
Moving next to our sandwich, the signature "Flagship Sandwich" featuring Flagship, Just Jack, Basil, Tomato, and Tangy "Beecher's Spread" on buttered Panini-pressed bread the sandwich would also prove to be quite delicious with a flavor not unlike a good Margherita pizza but with a bit more crunch - another worthwhile taste of the market, though I will admit my tastes lean more towards cheddar and thicker egg breads when I eat grilled cheese otherwise. -
Review from Kate S.
12/28/2011
I've had their Mac & Cheese for a late breakfast, and you know what? I DON'T CARE that it is 10 am. It is so good and cheesy and delicious and yummy and no, I don't want to share....
It is fun to watch them make the cheese, it is fun to eat the curds and have them squeak in your mouth, it is fun to sample and then go home with a big block of delicious cheese, and it IS fun to get a giant helping of mac & cheese and eat it whatever time of day you want....and maybe sharing if I feel nice.Listed in: I lub Cheese
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Review from CeCe C.
12/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's fun watching them make cheese while you eat your bowl of mac & cheese in here and sit on milk pails!
I honestly thought the mac & cheese was OK. But you should at least stop by here if it's your first time and watch the cheese making action!Listed in: this is seattle
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Review from Pam L.
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Cheese is my chocolate so I was in heaven here!
Everything I tried was amazing.
Get the Mac and Cheese!!! -
Review from Vivian H.
I LOVE cheese. It's a shame that I am lactose intolerant, but I have enough lactase enzyme pills to last me awhile. It's also sort of a blessing in disguise, because it prevents me from gaining weight by eating too much cheese.
I tried the world famous mac & cheese and the flagship sandwich. Although I shared both with the bf, it got a little too rich for me to handle. The flavors in the mac and cheese were amazing. The basil in the sandwich was so good, but I could have used a little less cheese. We ended up eating less than half of the small size of mac & cheese and took the rest home. It was even better later when I wasn't overwhelmed by too much cheese.
They also offer samples of cheese curds and their flagship cheese. The flagship cheese is good but I don't quite get the appeal of cheese curds. -
Review from Shawn N.
Seattle, WA
1/31/2012
amazing amazing grilled cheese, even more amazing mac'n cheese. This place is always crowded order your food at the counter, and enjoy your lunch in the park. One of my favorite places for lunch in the city for sure.
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Review from Marin J.
12/21/2011 1 photo
The first time I had Beecher's was when I was sad. I was looking around in a freezer case and saw the black box. Looked at the price tag. Picked it up, put it back, at least three times. Then thought, "heck", I'm sad, and I'm worth it today.
Followed the instructions on the box. DID NOT microwave.
Fell in Love.
I forgot the brief fling for several months. And then went to Pike Place Market in Seattle, Wa. And there was the chance to rekindle with an old flame.
I did not know, dear Beecher's Mac and Cheese in the elegant box, that you were indeed most famous, so famous, in fact, that Oprah gave you away on one of her shows.
The shop is on the corner. And my god. You can stand there and watch what you may be eating, being made right before your eyes. A rarity these days.
I went in. Stood in line, and decadently bought a take out tub. It is very rich. But if you have been hoofing around Seattle like a tourist, believe me you will have walked enough to consume the pot with no guilt.
And after all, we had already met.
Who would have thought that divinity could express itself through the simplicity of cheese and pasta. The flavors in the seasoned one, are a little warm to the tongue but for a trip to extra ordinary, take the chance.
I also sampled a sandwich. And cheese sticks.
I felt like moving in, willing to sleep on top of the counter top just to be first in line each morning.
Worth Every Penny. Worth the wait in the queue. And wonderfully duplicated in the freezer case at the local store.
My fling will, I hope, last a lifetime. -
Review from Tim C.
12/9/2011
I'm a big fan of free samples, and if you come at the right time, you'll get some really good ones here.
I also tried the classic mac n cheese, and it is pretty delicious. Incredibly heavy and creamy - probably one of the heaviest mac n cheeses that I've had - but definitely full of good flavor and CHEESE. You definitely won't miss the cheese in this one. It's a little bit on the heavy side for me personally (I couldn't finish a small cup of it in one sitting), but that doesn't mean I wouldn't get it again. I'd just need some friends to share it with. :)
I really liked the stools they had by the cheese-making window. And it's really neat seeing them make cheese, especially while you're eating it! -
Review from Vanessa V.
Paradise Valley, AZ
1/11/2012
We were in Seattle for 2 days and we had some of the Beecher's Mac 'n' Cheese BOTH days!! It is THE BEST MAC 'N" CHEESE I have EVER had! You have to make sure and stop in and try some if you are in Seattle! It is just served in a paper tub and fast and easy and delicious! I am so glad they are not in AZ or I would eat it all the time and gain so much weight!
PERFECT on a cold rainy day, warms up all your senses =) -
Review from Sherry V.
12/24/2011
Hmm.. should've stuck to the original mac & cheese. My sister and I were feeling a little adventurous and ordered the Mariachi mac & cheese. Bad sign #1- It was dry/burnt looking compared to the other luscious tray containing "world's best" mac & cheese. Bad sign #2- The mariachi tray was untouched compared to the quickly diminishing original-mac tray... We didn't finish our little share of mac & cheese, needless to say.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed watching their little factory make cheese through the glass windows. -
Review from samantha l.
Sacramento, CA
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
So simple, yet so delicious. Cheesy, creamy, and a hint of spices- this is the mac n cheese of all mac and cheeses. Beecher's Handmade Cheese was my first dining experience in Seattle during my recent visit and it did not disappoint. Lucky for my boyfriend and I, the line was not too long when we visited (it was about 12:30 p.m.)- but beware, the line can get pretty long at times. We were quickly helped and ordered:
-"World's Best" Mac & Cheese ($8.64 for 16 ounces): The penne pasta works great with the cheese sauce because it holds the cheese inside each piece. The cheese is very flavorful, but not overwhelming at all. It's nice a creamy and just so easy to eat. The 16 ounce portion is plenty for one person, but at the same time, it's so delicious, I'm sure I could eat more than this just because I wouldn't know when to stop. The warm cheesy pasta is great on a chilly day.
-Breadzel ($2.73): It was very fair sized and a nice accompaniment to our Mac & Cheese. It was herb-y and had a nice layer/crust of cheesiness as well. It was quite substantial and they toasted it a little bit to make it warm. It's not amazing, but pretty good.
Even though there wasn't much of a line to order, unfortunately there weren't any spaces available to eat inside of the shop. There are only about 10 seats, lined along a counter facing the room where they make the cheese. My boyfriend and I just took our order to go and found a table and chairs in a nearby courtyard area.
Notes:
-They offer samples of their cheese and crackers in the store.
-They also serve another Mac & Cheese: Mariachi, which I wish I would have tried. But how could I resist the "World's Best"? -
Review from Dennis J.
Chicago, IL
1/24/2012
Go for the cheese. The "World's Best" mac and cheese ... is not. Watching them make cheese is also a lot of fun.
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Review from John C.
Gillette, WY
1/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
I shall taste thier Mac&cheese and cheese curds in my dreams from now until I get to Seattle again.My wife and I seemed to be drawn into this place every time we were near Pike Market. Great cheese, great people working behind the counter and giving out samples, and so so addicting Mac&cheese!!
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Review from Kristina C.
Downey, CA
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Best mac n cheese ever. Enough said.
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Review from Sara Q.
cheese curds aka squeaky cheese is THE way to go. its amazing delicious. although it is a bit pricey, i would say totally worth it. you get a half pint for about 5 dollars and some change i believe or a whole pint for .. $9-10? something like that. the cheese is so fresh and it has a great salty flavor that's balanced out with creaminess. my mouth is watering for more. i was so happy. me and my friend missy ended up trying both mac and cheese, but i wasn't too hungry so i didn't opt to get any at the time. the mac and cheese is also pricey and i preferred the spicier one to the regular mac and cheese, but that's just me. for some reason i wasn't blown away at how great the mac and cheese was, something was missing from it .. bacon perhaps? idk what it was, but it was something. it just didn't have that one up zah zah zoom that i wanted. but that's okay, the cheese curds definitely made up for it. we also got a breadtzle, warmed up, which was perfectly seasoned with more of there delicious cheese on top. i could eat the breadtzles and cheese curds all day and be a happy fat kid.
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Review from Henry T.
Lives up to its hype. Definitely. Jonathan L. recommended this place to me, but I didn't think I'd get much from...well, a mac 'n' cheese place. But OMG! I'm not even a fan of macaroni and cheese, but wow, Beecher's know's how to make it right! I tried both "World's Best" and "Mariachi" and they were DELICIOUS! The pasta is nice, soft and fresh. Same with the cheese. You can definitely tell the cheese is fresh as soon as it comes into contact with your tongue.
If you're deciding which to go with, I personally liked Mariachi more. It had a slight tint of spiciness to it and is more flavorful. It also has corn in it. I didn't think these would work for macaroni and cheese, but it does. Trust.
You can't go wrong with World's Best, either. I haven't been all around the world, but I would go as far as saying, yes this is the world's best mac 'n cheese! -
Review from Krista U.
11/17/2011
Beecher's is famous for being straight up awesome in the cheese department.
I've had their cheese before (from QFC) but never while at Pike Place! The Home Base!! So my friend and I decided to check it out for lunch!
We shared a Mariachi Mac and Cheese since we planned on snacking around various places at Pike Place. Unfortunately, we were so enamored by the awesomeness of the Mac and Cheese that we didn't feel like having anything else after that! It would be like ruining a perfect moment!
I like how you can sit on little milk canisters and watch how the cheese is made! Although I wonder how the guys making the cheese feel about being watched like zoo animals... -
Review from Lindsay P.
Lynnwood, WA
10/12/2011
I came here the other day to have lunch with my friend and was amazed at how long the line was. Somehow I managed to get a parking spot right across the street from their store and I just kept thinking: "Wow, this is going to take a while."
Amazingly, it really didn't take that long. We got our order taken pretty fast, and then it was maybe another 5 minutes waiting for my sandwich. When we got the large macaroni and flagship cheese, and the crab and flagship sandwich, I wanted to gobble it up so fast that it would have never even existed.
Beechers is not cheap. It was $20 for the one sandwich and the large mac n' cheese. But it was worth it. I'm just sad that I left without buying any cheese to take home... -
Review from Pui S.
The best Mac & Cheese!!!
I don't know what else to say, I don't know how to make you see it clearer.
So I'm going say, go try it!!! :) -
Review from Erich D.
12/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
I don't know if it is indeed the world's best mac and cheese, but in order to taste it you have to ask for an order of the "World's Best" Mac & Cheese. It's a pretty creamy and a slightly sharp cheese they use (their award-winning Flagship cheese) over penne pasta. I enjoyed it and would definitely go back every time I'm around but only if the line isn't unreasonably long.
Listed in: Space Needles and tree needles
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Review from grace y.
11/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Thank god I'm not one of the ~90% of asians who are lactose intolerant. I love this place. I make a pretty bomb mac and cheese but this one just has an extra oomph to it. The quality of the cheese is premium and it's just about the creamiest thing you'll ever eat.
I've been to Seattle three times and ate here twice. Meaning that this place is bomb and not to be missed! -
Review from Gricelda P.
Dallas, TX
11/8/2011 6 photos
Visiting this place is like visiting the magical land of cheese.
Oh cheese......I love you
For starters the building is super cute, it has a vintage feel to it and you can see them making the cheese from the street, so it definetly catches your eye.
I went in and I had a grilled cheese sandwich and it was pretty delicious, nice and hot on a rainy day mmmmmmm
I took some of their cheese on the plane for my family and it made it just fine, everyone loved it! -
Review from Melissa P.
Seattle, WA
11/22/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I waited to write this review until I tried the macaroni and cheese. Our first visit to Beecher's we got a couple sandwiches, tomato soup and french onion soup. The sandwiches weren't very good. The tomato soup was excellent but the french onion was not. I was surprised that the french onion soup didn't come with a bunch of cheese on it since it is Beecher's cheese...I thought it was going to be the best french onion ever. We were not very impressed with the first visit.
Today I got the macaroni and cheese.....AMAZING!! Very rich but definitely the best macaroni and cheese I've ever had. The flavor is wonderful! I'm assuming the grilled cheese is probably really good too. Next time is grilled cheese and macaroni and cheese. Sounds like a wonderful, artery clogging meal. -
Review from Adriana K.
Seattle, WA
10/26/2011
This is always a fun place to take out of town guests or just pop in for that amazing mac & cheese or sandwiches that are so cheesily delicious. Not a whole lot of space to eat and the seats aren't very comfy if you do grab one - best to head across the street to the park for some great some sightseeing :)
Their cookbook is pretty decadent as well -plus you can watch them make the cheese and have a sample! -
Review from Angela Y.
10/4/2011
Hands down - the best mac-n-cheese I've ever had!
Located in one of the touristy spots of Seattle (Pike Place Market), Beecher's is cheese heaven. When you walk in, you can see the huge trough where they make the cheese. It's pretty cool. Along the side they have seats made of milk cans - cute! There's cheese samples that you can try as well as small foods you can try. Definitely sample their different cheeses; they have such a great selection.
Before you leave, you MUST get the mac-n-cheese. Especially on a rainy and cold day, this satisfies any comfort food craving you have. The cheese is so creamy, melty and flavourful. Everything just melts in your mouth. It's definitely very heavy so I shared with a friend.
Beecher's, come to California! -
Review from Monica N.
10/24/2011
Tried this place with the help of Oprah. ;)
The Mac n' Cheese is definitely CHEEESAY! -
Review from Rebecca H.
Thousand Oaks, CA
1/2/2012
It really is the BEST mac & cheese! And it is fun to watch them actually making the cheese.
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Review from Tim B.
12/5/2011
Cheese. Freakin' good cheese. I find myself craving this place. Just the image of their mac and cheese will pop right into my head while driving or at a funeral. I can't escape it's cheesy allure.... mmmm, cheese.
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Review from Devina S.
11/17/2011
I dedicated my first posting to BEECHERS! This place is awesome. Awesome cheese. Awesome staffs too. Usually in the morning, we can see the process of making the cheese curd in a tub which always make me wanna jump inside the cheese pool.
I love the original mac n cheese, but if you like spices you should try the " flavored" one. Their grilled sandwiches are not bad options too for quick lunch. So far I have not find a better mac n cheese than this place. Their frozen mac n cheese also tastes similar to the original one (of couse without Pike Place atmosphere when eating it)
BESTt mac n cheese ever. Thanks Beechers!
