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9 best macaroni & cheese dishes in la, Bandera, bassist michael papillo, chef dakota weiss, Deathbed Food, DeathbedFood, Diane Wagner, hillstone group, Hillstone Restaurant Group, ink restaurant, joan's on third, la mac & cheese, la poubelle, LA restaurants, Mac & Cheese, news, nook bistro, The Peninsula Beverly Hills, the six restaurant
Bandera Mac & Cheese, RIP
I recently had such a jarring experience at dinner that I felt like I was down on the field waiting for the medics to take me out. It happened at Bandera on a Saturday night. Everything was so normal, things were going great … the musicians were playing (in fact, a huge shout-out to Bassist Michael Papillo who was there tearing it up), the place was packed as always, and our friendly waiter was taking our order. As a long-time BANDERAHOLIC (7+ years in LA, many years in the OC prior), I gave him my typical order: Fish of the day with their mashed potatoes and sauteed spinach (extra garlic). And, of course, the mac & cheese on the side.
To my horror, he sweetly said, “Oh, sorry, we don’t have the mac & cheese anymore.” I must have gone limp and lost all the color from my face. I felt like I did in April, 1999 when I was living in Detroit briefly in my year away from LA and one of my LA friends told me on the phone that Groove Radio (103.1) had gone off the air. I could NOT believe it. I thought it was an April Fools joke. No joke. I still pine away for that station. Anyone else? Anyone?
Again he said, “No, really, they took it off” … at which point I told him I needed to speak with the manager. In addition to how much I personally loved that dish, I’m also well aware that it’s one of the hottest dishes in LA (and across the US) right now … in fact, LA Weekly just wrote about the “9 Best Macaroni & Cheese Dishes in LA” including Joan’s on Third‘s and Nook Bistro‘s. Of course, I have my personal favorites beyond Bandera’s (which was #1 always in my heart) including La Poubelle‘s, The Six’s Cauliflower Mac & Cheese, Chef Dakota Weiss’ French Onion version and recently INK’s crazy modern version of the stuff. I also hear that the Peninsula Beverly Hill’s Truffle Mac & Cheese is always a stunner. And, then there’s Wolfgang’s mac & cheese served to the stars at the Oscars Governors Ball. Hmm, maybe Bandera knows something that all of these other restaurants and chefs don’t know? Has mac & cheese jumped the shark?
I eagerly awaited the manager’s arrival to find out. Manager Kaitlynn came by and listened to me rant on about how I could not believe it was gone … what were they thinking?! She then very professionally, albeit a bit stiffly, explained that the decision was made by the powers that be to remove it since they thought the consistency was not reliable. What?! I must have had that dish there 100+ times and I can assure you, each time it was GOOOOOOOOOOD. She then mentioned I could call corporate if I like to talk to the suits about why they made the decision.
So, Monday morning, I was on the phone to corporate. A business day later, no return call. Hmm. I realize this may not be Hillstone Group‘s top priority as they manage Bandera, Hillstone, Gulfstream and the like. Still, you’d think one of them would throw me a bone.
Without the benefit of talking to the suits about what happened, I thought I’d skip to what seems to be most important in relation to this loss … paying a Memorial Tribute to the dish.
I’d like to start the Memorial by saying that I’m so sorry, BANDERA MAC & CHEESE, for taking you for granted … so much so I don’t even have a photo of you! Perhaps Nook Bistro’s (below) may come closest with, as LA Weekly said, “its crispy top and creamy innards.”
Somehow, I just always assumed you’d be there … as you were for so many of my bad dates, good dates, futile attempts to meet men in my single days out on the scene, occasional “holding court” nites there, fun-filled evenings with the girls, and birthday celebrations (I’ve probably celebrated at least 4 birthdays there in the last 10 years). Each time, religiously, I either ordered you or wanted to order you (much to my nutritionist’s chagrin). But, either way, I thought about you! No matter what else I ordered, even it was just wine and dessert, a Bandera experience somehow seemed incomplete without you.
So now I’d like to turn it over to a few of my friends (names changed for their own protection) who were also touched by you. First up, Gretchen, my BFF.
Thank you, Diane. Yes, as your BFF, you and I spent many a night at Bandera … and most of those nights saddled up to the bar ordering the Mac & Cheese against my wishes. As you well know, I have HIGH CHOLESTEROL and should not be eating such things. Still, you were so unhappy if I wouldn’t share it with you … and I’m such a good friend to you, always doing what you want! … that I had to agree to share it. That said, you are not a good sharer. You know that’s the truth! I, Gretchen, know how to share well, but you, Diane, do not! Net net, we “shared” the dish with you somehow devouring more than your 50%. Personally, I’m glad that the dish is no more … it will help my cholesterol and we won’t have to fight as much about sharing.
Thank you, Gretchen. I’ll catch up with you more later. Next up, I’d like to have my good friends Heather and Alice come to the podium.
Thanks Diane. Yes, Alice and I also have plenty of Bandera memories with you. In fact, most of our memories of you seem to be Bandera-related as it seems to be the only place you really ever wanted to hang out. You really should get out more. But, back on point, we wanted to talk about that one night that we all three sat at the bar ordering food, me on the left, you in the middle and Alice on the right. We remember like it was yesterday as you begged each of us individually to share the mac & cheese with you … “Pleeeaaaaase Heather” … “Come onnnnn Alice!” … with both of us bailing on you. We do feel bad about that. I had to drop a few pounds for that beach vacation and Alice said she was watching her weight. I think I said “I can’t believe how much you eat, Diane” which I’m not sure came across the right way. Anyways, we’re kind of glad Bandera got rid of it too … no more begging us to have it with you as a result!
Thank you, Heather and Alice. And, finally, I’d like to have one of my ex’s, and big time regular Bandera date, Bob, up to speak.
Thank you, Diane. Yes, you and I went to Bandera more than a few times over the course of our relationship – in good times and in bad, to celebrate and to commiserate … and each time, having to get that d#*# mac & cheese. I still don’t understand how you eat and why we always had to get what you wanted to get. It was always you, you, you! Guess it’s good we’re not a couple anymore. I, too, am glad that stupid dish is gone as every time I saw it on the menu, I had to think of you. Now maybe I can go to Bandera with a clear-mind. Ah-hem, sorry, I digress. Thanks, Diane for inviting me to the service – glad we’re still so obviously friends!
Ah-hem, thank you, Bob. With that I’d like to break with a musical interlude of a song played many times at Bandera’s piano (and one of my personal favorites): Take Five
In closing, to quote the words of another who went way too soon, Whitney Houston: BANDERA MAC & CHEESE, “I will always love you.”