Cheese Please!
What is a comfort meal that everyone connects with no matter what age? Mac and cheese of course!
That is what Jason and Michele Whipland, the husband and wife owners of Mic N Mac in Wappingers Falls and Middletown, thought when they opened their first location ten years ago.
Prior to opening the original Mix N Mac in Middletown, Jason Whipland worked at 34 restaurants in his career. Whipland worked for a variety of eateries, ranging from high end restaurants to national chains. He and his wife Michele, met while working in a restaurant. The two spent their careers in the food industry, creating unique dishes for people of all ages to enjoy.
“The first thing we said we ever wanted to do was open a restaurant together. We never stopped wanting that,” Michele Whipland said. The two loved working together and had the same goal to own a restaurant together. The Whiplands have a passion for food and taking a twist on something ordinary and turning it into something different.
“When you are in the restaurant business for such a long time, you love it so much that you want to open one yourself,” Michele said. The Whiplands wanted to create a work environment that was positive and welcoming for all their employees. The couple gives their employees leeway to make their own dishes and creative decisions.
The goal originally was not to have a mac and cheese themed restaurant. At first, the pair thought of opening a comfort food restaurant with cheesesteaks and mac and cheese. As they began planning and working on the menu, the direction began to change.
“We started creating all sorts of different mac and cheese dishes and it just sort of went in that direction. We created unique flavors and recipes,” Michele said.
And their mac and cheese recipes are certainly unique. Mix N Mac offers dishes ranging from chicken and waffle mac and cheese, to chicken bacon ranch mac and cheese and classic cheddar mac and cheese. Rice pudding, cheesecake, salad and mac and cheese balls are also served at Mix N Mac.
“We are always thinking of things that we can make into a mac and cheese. Some of your best dishes come from a great dish that you are already eating. Every meal you can turn into a mac and cheese,” Michele said on how the Whiplands bring their creative dish ideas to life.
People of all ages can come in and enjoy the mac and cheese. Many guests leave with a whole new appreciation for the dish.
