As with many beloved pasta dishes, macaroni and cheese traces its roots to Italy. A recipe in the 13th-century cookbook “Liber de Coquina” describes de lasanis: squares of pasta boiled in water and layered with grated cheese, likely Parmesan. Variations of the dish spread throughout Europe before making their way to the United States in the early 19th century.
One of the people responsible for introducing it to American diners was James Hemings, the enslaved chef of President Thomas Jefferson. In 1784, Hemings traveled with Jefferson to France, where he trained in French cuisine, becoming the first American known to receive formal culinary training there. During the trip, Jefferson developed a taste for macaroni and cheese, and Hemings later recreated the dish with his own interpretation. Jefferson favored Hemings’ version, serving it at a White House state dinner in the early 1800s.
After its debut among the nation’s political elite, macaroni and cheese gradually gained wider popularity. Its place in the American kitchen was cemented in 1937, when Kraft Foods introduced its boxed Macaroni & Cheese Dinner, making the dish inexpensive, convenient and accessible to households across the country.
Today, macaroni and cheese appears in countless variations, from classic baked casseroles to versions loaded with barbecue, seafood, vegetables and truffles. Here are 18 Sonoma County restaurants serving their own takes on the comfort-food favorite.
Check here for our dining editor’s top cheesy picks.
Sonoma County-wide
Legacy BBQ
Mac and Cheese, price varies: Baked macaroni with sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, Cajun seasoning and a dash of Louisiana hot sauce, finished with breadcrumbs. Add bits of barbecued brisket for extra richness. Available for catering and pop-up events. legacybbqsoco.com
Santa Rosa
Jackson’s Bar and Oven
Mac & Cheese, $18: Gruyère macaroni and cheese topped with toasted bacon breadcrumbs. 135 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-545-6900, jacksonsbarandoven.com
Stark’s Steak and Seafood
Four Cheese Mac with Dijon, $16: A creamy four-cheese macaroni infused with Dijon mustard. Black Truffle & Goat Cheese Mac, $20: Black truffle and goat cheese add earthy, tangy notes, finished with fresh chives. 521 Adams St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-5100, starkssteakhouse.com
Willie’s Wine Bar
English Pea Mac & Cheese, $19: Sweet English peas, pancetta, green garlic and pecorino brighten this version. 1415 Town and Country Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-526-3096, williswinebar.net
Kenwood
Salt & Stone
Truffle Mac & Cheese, $16: A four-cheese sauce made with Grana Padano, Gouda, Queso Ibérico and white cheddar, topped with toasted breadcrumbs. 9900 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, 707-833-6326, saltstonekenwood.com
Graton
Underwood Bar & Bistro
Macaroni & Cheese, $12.50: Rich, bubbling macaroni and cheese finished with toasted breadcrumbs. Add pancetta for $3. 9113 Graton Road, Graton, 707-823-7023, underwoodgraton.com
Petaluma
Seared
Lobster Mac & Cheese, $25: Chunks of lobster, bacon, English peas, Parmesan and Valley Ford Highway 1 fondue, finished with chives. 170 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-762-5997, petalumaseared.com
Speakeasy
Lobster Mac & Cheese, $18: Lobster, cheddar and fontina cheeses topped with crumbled bacon and herbed breadcrumbs. 139 Petaluma Blvd. N., Suite B, Petaluma, 707-776-4631, speakeasypetaluma.com
Brewsters Beer Garden
Mac & Cheese, $12: Gooey elbow macaroni baked in a cast-iron skillet and topped with thyme breadcrumbs. Add bacon for $8 or burnt ends for $9. 229 Water St. N., Petaluma, 707-981-8330, brewstersbeergarden.com
Penngrove
The Grove Speakeasy
Grove Mac, $16: Cavatappi in a four-cheese Mornay sauce with bacon and breadcrumbs. 10056 Main St., Penngrove, 707-664-5916, thegrovespeakeasy.com
Windsor
KIN Windsor
Mac-Daddy Pizza, $18 for 10-inch, $27 for 14-inch: Thick-crust pizza topped with red sauce, mozzarella, applewood-smoked bacon and the restaurant’s white cheddar macaroni and cheese. The mac is also available as an entrée for $21. Welcome to carb heaven. 740 McClelland Drive, Windsor, 707-837-7546, kinwindsor.com
Sweet T’s Restaurant
Loaded Mac & Cheese, $24: Two-cheddar macaroni topped with breadcrumbs, bacon, jalapeños and barbecue sauce, with a choice of smoked brisket, pulled pork or pulled chicken. 9098 Brooks Road S., Windsor, 707-687-5185, sweettssouthern.com
Healdsburg
Kinsmoke
Mac & Cheese, $6.50 side: Creamy shell pasta served alongside barbecue favorites, including brisket and pulled pork. 304 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-473-8440, kinsmoke.com
West County and Coast
Boon Eat + Drink
Boon Mac-N-Cheese, $16: Mycopia mushrooms and truffle breadcrumbs add earthy depth. 16248 Main St., Guerneville, 707-869-0780, eatatboon.com
Saucy Mama’s Jook Joint
Mac & Cheese, $8: A creamy version made with four cheeses. 16632 Highway 116, Guerneville, 707-604-7184, saucymamasjookjoint.com
Negri’s
Mac + Cheese, $13.50: Smoked Gouda and Monterey Jack topped with breadcrumbs. Add pancetta for $4. 3700 Bohemian Highway, Occidental, 707-874-0301, negrisrestaurant.com
Valley Ford Cheese & Creamery
Mac & Cheese, price varies: Menu specials change regularly, but the mac often features cheeses such as Highway 1 and Estero Gold, with add-ons including sausage and peppers or flank steak and bok choy. 14390 Valley Ford Road, Valley Ford, 707-875-7073, valleyfordcheese.com
Sonoma
Tasca Tasca
Mac & Cheese, price varies by tasting plates: Portuguese-style macaroni and cheese with smoky, mildly spicy linguica. 122 W. Napa St., Sonoma, 707-996-8272, tascatasca.com