The Foodie Maps - Las Vegas

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They put Mac & Cheese in What?

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They put Mac & Cheese in What?

What do Vegas's newest food truck, a hollowed-out hotel, and a taste-off all have in common?

Apr 14, 2021
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They put Mac & Cheese in What?

thefoodiemapslv.substack.com

What’s up foodies, it’s Krager, and welcome to this week’s issue of The Foodie Maps Las Vegas! Also, a cheesy welcome to our new subs!

Each week we bring the hottest trends, recommendations, and news from the Vegas food scene right to your inbox. Whether you’re a local looking for new places to eat or a traveler planning your next trip, this newsletter is for you. And best of all, it’s totally free!


👍 Mac & Cheese is for Me

This issue is about all things mac & cheese! This past week, the team stumbled across an ongoing mac & cheese taste-off which we will now be reporting on, so stay tuned for some updates!

Also for the first time, the team hit the road and visited a local mac and cheese food truck only to discover a never-seen-before cuisine. 🤭

Let’s get to it!


🧀 Vegas’s Newest Food Truck

mackinwagon
A post shared by @mackinwagon

Escalated Mac n Cheese

🍔 Mackin’ Burger
📸 @mackinwagon
🚚 Mackin’ Wagon

This past month, I had the pleasure of visiting the Mackin’ Wagon for one of their first popups. Recently, I met the owners, Matt and Lisa, on a Las Vegas Foodies Facebook group. I was interested in both hearing their story and trying out their unique lunch creations. Both Matt and Lisa are long-time bartenders in Vegas, but for the past few years, they have been steadily laying the foundations for their food truck, the Mackin’ Wagon. Although Covid slowed down their progress, the owners pushed through and were able to recently open their truck. I’m thrilled for them because the popup I visited was a huge success as the constant stream of customers for the duration of the event never quite seemed to slow down.

A bustling line for the new food truck!

Now let’s get to the food. When it was my time to order, I had their signature dish: the Mac and Cheese Bomba. In simple terms, the Bomba is a fresh baguette stuffed to the brim with Mac and Cheese. When ordering, you have the choice of what kind of mac & cheese you want: white gouda, or traditional-three cheese. And, if you’re looking for a bit extra, you can add one of three meats: Applewood Smoked Bacon, Hand-Breaded Buffalo Chicken, or BBQ Pulled Pork. I decided to order the white gouda since it’s my favorite cheese. 😋

Here is the Bomba I ordered! Also, each plate & bag at the Mackin’ Wagon is stamped with the signature rustic wagon.

This original dish intrigued me in the days leading up to my visit and I wondered what I would think of the double carb concoction. I was thrilled to discover that my White Gouda Bomba was everything I seek when I try a cuisine for the first time. Delicious. New. Unique. The macaroni blanketed in white gouda cheese could easily be eaten on its own. However, when combined with the light flaky baguette, the dish reminded me of a lightly stuffed grilled cheese. Only replace the cheese with mac & cheese of course!

I was curious about how they stumbled upon such a unique but delicious combination, so I decided to ask the owner, Matt. He told me that the Bomba was created after much experimentation in the kitchen. I imagine they combined mac and cheese with many other different food items before being thrilled to discover the odd but undeniably delicious pairing of mac and cheese on a baguette. 🧀🥖

mackinwagon
A post shared by @mackinwagon

Other items on the menu include the Mackin’ Burger, the Mac Dog, and the Buffalo Mac Bowl. Next time I’m back in the area, I will certainly be returning to see how their exquisite mac and cheese pairs in these other cuisines.

After our chat, Matt insisted I have one of their Deep Fried Cheesecakes for the road. Thanks, Matt!

To follow the Mackin’ Wagon’s journey and see where they will be next, be sure to:

Follow them on Facebook

Check out: @mackinwagon on Instagram


Want to be featured in our next issue? We feature foodies and restaurants alike.
Show us what you’re about and email us at thefoodiemaps@gmail.com or shoot us a DM!

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onesevenagency
A post shared by @onesevenagency

History & Comfort Food?

🍕 Baked Mac & Cheese
📸 @onesevenagency
📍 Carson’s Kitchen

The John E. Carson Hotel was a small hotel located in Downtown Las Vegas on the corner of 6th and Carson. In 2014, the hotel was purchased and remodeled as a part of ongoing efforts to revitalize Downtown Las Vegas. Today, the once-hotel is bustling with restaurants, tattoo parlors, and other new-age businesses. Homage is paid to the original tenant by the adequately named Carson’s Kitchen.

The revitalization was a success as Carson’s Kitchen has caught on as a Downtown favorite in recent years. The restaurant features reimagined comfort food served alongside a contemporary bar, open kitchen expo counter, community tables, and an outdoor rooftop and bar. Their baked mac & cheese is quite captivating, but the only description given on the menu is “shhhh, it’s a secret” 😂


vegas_tasteoff
A post shared by @vegas_tasteoff

A Mac & Cheese Taste-Off? 😱

During our time in quarantine, the folks at @vegas_tasteoff were putting together a take-home kit containing mac & cheese from five local eateries & barbecues. While it may be too late to order a kit, you can still visit each of the contending eateries!

  1. Cheesy Macaroni from Rollin Smoke BBQ (top left)

    rollinsmokebbq
    A post shared by @rollinsmokebbq
  2. Smoked Gouda Four-Cheese Macaroni from RandBcatering (top right)

    randbcatering
    A post shared by @randbcatering
  3. Five Cheese Macaroni from Tucky's Smokin' BBQ (middle)

    tuckysbbq
    A post shared by @tuckysbbq
  4. Bacon and Breadcrumb Loaded Macaroni and Cheese from Smoke & Fire BBQ (bottom left)

    smokeandfirelv
    A post shared by @smokeandfirelv
  5. Two Macaroni and Cheese Empanadas from Taina Kitchen (bottom right)

    taina_kitchen_
    A post shared by @taina_kitchen_

As of now, the results have not been announced but should be in the coming week. I guess you’ll just have to try them all and make your own decision in the meantime!


Thanks for reading this week’s issue of The Foodie Maps Las Vegas!

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They put Mac & Cheese in What?

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