While macaroni and cheese might be a regular feature on kitchen tables across the country, it appears that if you put it on a carvery menu, you’re going to get some blowback.
A recent trip to a Toby Carvery by a reporter from StokeOnTrentLive - in which mac and cheese is offered alongside roasts, stuffing and the usual Sunday accoutrements - has sparked on online debate.
Writer Ruby Davies went along to the Toby in Trentham for a ‘festive roast’ with her mum to try out the three-course offering for £15 (a two course option is just £11.49 during the week). The meal came with choices of pork, gammon, turkey, beef, Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, beef dripping roasties, carrots, peas, parsnips and brussels sprouts.
Read more: The best Sunday roasts in Manchester
The menu featured a number of other slightly unorthodox options, including a ‘festive Yorkshire calzone’, a cross between a Yorkshire pudding and the type of folded pizza. However, it was not that that sparked the online fury as much as the pasta with cheese sauce (though perhaps an eyelid would not be batted over cauliflower cheese).
Ruby noted her full approval of the mac and cheese option, adding ‘I love the way it tastes with Toby's gravy. She went on to say: “Everything on my plate was hot and tasty, the meat was juicy and succulent, and the star of the show was the crunchy roast potatoes. I've never been disappointed with a Toby Carvery and today was no exception.
“At less than £15 for three courses I think the festive menu is great value for money and both myself and my mum were so full when we left that we both went without any tea that evening.”
Macaroni cheese is far from an unusual side dish, and is often seen in both Caribbean cultures as well as in US cuisine. But nonetheless, traditional roast fans flocked to the comments section to air their apparent distaste. Wrote one: “Macaroni on a carvery? Someone needs to give the brains at Toby Carvery a bloody shake. Disgraceful antics!” Added another: “Never seen the like!”
“OMG it looks like something you'd expect in the YMCA," said one disgusted reader, while another said: “Oh no - someone needs to give their head a wobble.”
Let us know what you think in the comments section.
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