Bring a pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the macaroni and cook for 8-9 min. Drain

Preheat the oven to 400°F

In a small saucepan heat the milk with the theme sprigs and two garlic cloves. Melt the butter in a large deep skillet over a medium high heat.

Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 min stirring constantly to keep lumps from forming. Strain the solids out of the milk and whisk it into the butter and flour mixture.

Continue to whisk vigorously and cook until the mixture is nice and smooth. Stir in the 4 cups of cheese and continue to cook and stir to melt the cheese. Season with salt and pepper.

Add the cooked macaroni and the parsley and fold that all in to coat the macaroni with the cheese mixture. Add a few chili flakes. Scrape into a 3 quart baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining 1 1/2 cups of cheese . Bake for 30 min or until hot and bubbly.

While that bakes heat a saute pan. Add the bacon render the fat and cook till crispy. Add Onion..garlic..and thyme and cook for about 5 min to soften the onion. Season with salt and pepper.

To serve scatter the bacon mixture over the mac and cheese. Use a big spoon to scoop out servings making sure you give everyone some of the bacon mixture in each spoonful.