I recently had the chance to catch up with Top Chef Season 7 and All-Stars alum, Tiffany Derry, to talk about her post Top Chef life and she shared some of her recipes for us to try at home.

Since her second stint on Top Chef All-Stars, Derry has opened her first? Restaurant in Dallas, Private Social. She says that the restaurant is “Global cuisine, but definitely with a little Southern in there.”

In addition to dealing with the whirlwind of opening a new restaurant and the recognition that comes with being a Top Chef alum, Derry is has been filming her own yet-to-be-named reality TV series that focuses on the rigors of being a chef.

“It is more of a reality documentary show about the stories that a chef goes through balancing work, and a home life,” says Derry. “Those darn cameras are a part of my life now!”

Given that her home state of Texas is playing host to this season of Top Chef, I couldn’t resist asking her take on the show: “I feel that we have not seen a true representation of cuisines in Texas yet. Dallas is very modern. I go out to LA and they think we all still have horses! We have a culinary scene, and aren’t all about the giant plates of meat.”

Derry has also partnered with Sargento® and put together some recipes that she shared with me. I was immediately drawn to the Green Onion and Bacon Macaroni and Cheese, which was right up my alley.

Enjoy!

GREEN ONION AND BACON MACARONI AND CHEESE

From Tiffany Derry

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 8

Credit: Sargento®

Ingredients:

8 oz. elbow macaroni

2 Tbsp. kosher salt

3 Tbsp. butter

3 Tbsp. flour

3 cups milk

2 cups (8 oz.) Sargento® ChefStyle Shredded Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese

1 cup (4 oz.) Sargento® Artisan Blends® Shredded Mozzarella & Provolone Cheese

½ cup (2 oz.) Sargento® Artisan Blends® Shredded Parmesan Cheese

1 cup bacon, cooked crisp and chopped

½ cup green onion chopped

1 tsp. kosher salt

1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350° F. In large pot, boil water and add 2 Tbsp. salt. Add macaroni and

cook according to package directions.

Meanwhile, melt butter in a separate saucepan. Whisk in flour; cook, whisking

constantly, or until thickened. Gradually whisk in milk and simmer 5 minutes or until

mixture begins to bubble. Remove from heat.

Put half of macaroni in 8×8-inch casserole dish and sprinkle with half of the cheeses,

bacon and onion, salt and pepper. Repeat. Pour white sauce over.

Bake 30 minutes or until set and garnish with additional bacon and green onion before

serving, if desired.