Foodie Friday: Grandpa Mac
REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. – Not to be cheesy, but food always tastes better when you know it’s made with a whole lot of love.
Serving Up Smiles
That’s what it’s all about at Grandpa Mac in Rehoboth Beach. Foodie Photog Mike and Foodie Friday host Hannah Cechini indulged in fresh pasta and a super sandwich.
“We try to just do it a little bit differently than how everybody else is doing it because there are so many good food options in this area,” said owner Orion Cameron. “You’ve got to be creative and different to make sure that you’re giving customers a reason to come in.”
Orion and his team make pounds of pasta every day. And when those noodles are ready to be dressed up, they take a dip in boilers specially designed to achieve the perfect al dente.
Delmarva-licious
Large ridged elbows are destined to become a Delmarva Dog on the Foodie team’s visit.
“Just a little pinch of cheese on top of it, and that’ll give you that stringiness on the inside,” Orion explained as he perched the pile on the pasta.
Orion adds a generous ladle of seven cheese sauce, mixes in hot dogs, and caramelized onions. “Then we’re going to jalapeno this bad boy up,” he said.
This puppy gets another layer of cheese. Last but not least, crushed Doritos, then the dish takes a leisurely ride through the fire-breathing oven.
“The way they have paired it with the jalapeno and the Dorito crumb makes a very interesting, layered experience,” said Foodie Photog Mike.
Green Machne
If you’re looking to try a verified green machine, get into this next dish: Visualize World Peas.
The noodles get a nice layer of fresh pesto. It includes peas, parmesan regiano, and panko bread crumbs. It also rolls through the oven to get nice and melty. Hannah asked Orion to add bacon to their serving.
“They’re almost like little pieces of guanciale. They’re cut into cubes, and have that smokiness and saltiness which just pairs really well with everything in this dish,” Hannah said. “The pesto is just so vibrant and herbaceous. The peas are really nice, too. They add a perfect crunch. They’re not overcooked and mushy and they’ve retained that chew.”
Golden Brown Bliss
And, Grandpa Mac’s fried mac ‘n’ cheese bites will leave you in golden brown bliss.
“Even just picking this up, I can feel how perfectly fried this is,” Hannah said. “It’s nice and crispy, but it’s still got a give to it. I can hear it crunching in my fingers.”
Meaty Mushrooms
The Foodie team might not have had mush-room left in their stomachs, but they couldn’t pass up on this next dish.
“Mozzarella, that’s really for the melt,” Orion explained as he began building a roasted mushroom panini on fresh bread. “A little bit of white cheddar, that’s going to add some sharpness. We’ve got the goat cheese, which is going to give you the creaminess.”
The mushrooms are complemented by more caramelized onions.
“I think I’m going to recommend to Orion that he rename this sandwich ‘The Umami Bomb’ because that’s exactly what it is,” Hannah remarked.
“I think the goat cheese is kind of the MVP of the cheese lineup—the cheese ‘o’ line, if you will,” Mike added.
Humble Homage
After this savory journey, we leave off with a sweet homage to the man that inspired Orion and his brother Hari to continue his legacy of love. Each meal is served with a Werther’s Original candy, or a Jolly Rancher for those with dietary restrictions.
“That’s just a lovely little detail,” Mike said.
Grandpa Mac
Grandpa Mac is located at 18756 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach, Del. You can call them at 302-313-4751. If you go to check it out, tell the team that you saw them on Foodie Friday.
