Kenny Shopsin's Mac 'n' Cheese Pancakes

Shopsin's version (above)

and here's (part of) mine:

(apologies for the overall jenky quality.)

Have you ever heard of Kenny Shopsin? I hope so. Matt and I are big fans and became even bigger fans after watching the above video (the one above mine, obvi) on the NY Times online Sunday magazine section.

Then, we got his book, Eat Me: The Food and Philosophy of Kenny Shopsin.
If you've now watched the video and/or are familiar with the book or (thanks doug d. for the reminder) the documentary on him I Like Killing Flies, I think you'll understand. If you have lived on the lower east side and visited his restaurant, Shopsin's General Store (check out the menu), I think you'll really understand. Now for... Mac 'n' Cheese pancakes!

There are three major components to mac 'n' cheese pancakes. Here are two of them.

The only other thing you need is pancake batter. Oh and a griddle/pan at the right temperature. This is important. Kenny dedicates a chapter to Pancakes and the Lost Art of Griddling and, as he would say, if it's not in the right range of temperature, "different, bad things happen."

The actual mechanics of the dish are simple: Pancake batter on the hot griddle. Drop on some elbow macaroni. Drop on some shredded cheddar cheese. Make sure your cell phone is on a string around your neck. Flip.

The pancakes were awesome, and surprisingly there's nothing strange about the way they taste. They're simply really really good, especially the ones where the cheese has become crispy on the outside but remains molteny on the inside, though we only got a few with this perfect textural combo.

Flippin' pancakes in full Shopsin regalia:

"Most of the times when a customer makes a special request, it's not about the food, but rather his own desire to be in control and to establish his own specialness. Making people feel special through this kind of ass-kissing is one of the services that a restaurant can provide to people who need it, but it's not a service that I want to provide... Some people tell me that they're deathly allergic to something and that I have to make sure it's not in their food. I kick them out. I don't want to be responsible for anyone's life-or-death situation. I tell them they should go eat at a hospital." - Kenny Shopsin