Joel McHale shares his ultimate cheesy Mac-A-Roni food pairing, interview
While Joel McHale is always ready with a quick comeback and a witty one-liner, the talented entertainer is equally skilled in the kitchen. In this new role as Chief Mac-A-Roni Officer, McHale is ready to usher that San Francisco treat into a new era. Ready to pick up that fork and delve into this dinnertime innovation?
Families appreciate easy, delicious food options. Parents might remember the curious commercials where ding from San Francisco cable cars announced the rice and pasta dish’s arrival at the table. Over the years, the food brand has celebrated that connection to the city by the bay. The easy and versatile side dish is a pantry staple.
More recently, the brand stepped beyond that signature grain and other pasta options to get cheesier. Mac-A-Roni celebrates a creamy, cheesy flavor that is unlike others on the shelf. Available in Creamy Cheddar and Creamy White Cheddar, the classic comfort food is not just another side dish, and Joel McHale wants people to taste the difference.
While McHale has happily cooked from unique locales and touted his cocktail shaking expertise, his new role as Chief Mac-A-Roni officer is definitely a “fork yeah” moment. Check out this video.
Through his partnership with Mac-A-Roni, McHale graciously answered some questions for FoodSided. As seen in this responses, he is never afraid to offer his unique take on food.
Cristine Struble/FoodSided: Rice A Roni has always been that “San Francisco treat.” How do you think that the Mac-A-Roni will resonate with cooks?
Joel McHale: The new Mac-A-Roni will resonate with families because it tastes like it took all day to prepare, but it’s actually easy to make! It’s also creamy and can give just about any meal the taste upgrade families have been looking for. If you’re curious, come see me on Sept. 26 in New York at the Mac-A-Roni Experience, and we’ll give you a box to try! Just don’t distract me while I’m eating!
CS: Do you prefer to have mac and cheese as a side dish or as a main meal and why?
JM: That’s a good question – I would say both! A big bowl of pasta is about as close to heaven as we can get. I love serving steak with pasta, and if you serve a nice bone-in ribeye with a side of Mac-A-Roni, you’re living the high life; those flavor profiles complement each other so well. We live in a time where our great grandparents never dreamt of eating like this... Good times!
CS: What is your favorite food to pair with mac and cheese? Is there a food that should never be paired with the dish?
JM: Good question, I like pairing mac and cheese with steak! Steak and pasta – that’s the best combination I could dream of. I wouldn’t pair it with rancid fish, that’s for sure.
CS: When it comes to mac and cheese, what do you think is the most important characteristic that makes it the ultimate comfort food?
JM: It’s the pasta, cheese, and savory flavor. They’re all important. The combination of pasta, cheese, creamy texture and savory flavory - if you have that right, you’re going to be very happy.
On Crime Scene Kitchen, we can tell if you’re making a cake and you miss on an ingredient that makes it imbalanced. If a cake is too sweet – and it’s a carrot cake – you won’t want to finish the dish unless it has the right balance.
CS: Sometimes life can get a little cheesy. Is it important for you to have moments of levity around the table or during a meal?
JM: Yes, super important! Here’s what I’m known for – not ever telling jokes. People know me as a very serious man, and there’s no laughing at the dinner table. Just kidding – I like levity to the point of fault, so I can’t stop telling jokes! I’m not sure if this is good news or bad news, but I've even infected my teenage boys with it. There are lots of jokes flying at the dinner table! So yes, levity is important. Sometimes it’s important to be serious, like when you’re an air traffic controller. But I don’t do that – I put on makeup and pretend to be other people, so jokes work out really great.
CS: Crime Scene Kitchen Season is back for Season 3. Do you think that savory desserts have a place on the table? If so, is there a way to include mac and cheese into a dessert?
JM: We did have a few savory flavors in Season 2, but I can’t spoil anything about what’s ahead! I think savory desserts are good, but I love the combination of a sweet and salty dessert, like peanut brittle.
For anyone looking for a little cheesy treat to add to their meal, Mac-A-Roni is the answer. It is time to ring the bell on bringing delicious flavor to the dinner table.