Mac & Cheese Fest 2014

Hey guy, I’m Ashten, one of Billy’s interns for Fall 2014. If there’s one thing that Midwesterners love, it’s CHEESE! We’re known to put it on anything- broccoli, potatoes, sandwiches, nachos, salads, fondue,  and even extra cheese in the crust of our pizza! Earlier this month, I attended Mac & Cheese Fest and wanted to share my experience with you all!

“Who doesn’t love Mac & Cheese?” This exciting macaroni and cheese competition was held at the UIC Forum on October 4th, 2014. Sponsored by Svedka, Goose Island Beer Co, and K Hits 104.3, this food fest was home to over 30 different restaurants, sharing taste portions of their best Macaroni & Cheese dishes. Participating restaurants included Connie’s Pizza, Halsted’s Bar and Grill, Ugly Mug Café, Rockit Bar & Grill and many more. Your ticket to this festival also included 5 beverage tickets that could have been used on water, wine, beer or soda. Besides the unpredictable Chicago weather, it would have been a great day for a mac & cheese date!

There were over 30 restaurants to taste and vote for, and I have a few of my favorite dishes to share.

Made with a penne pasta that could have been compared to more of a baked mostaccioli dish, May St Café’s Truffled Chorizo mac & cheese had to be a god-sent. The Mexican seasoned sausage gave a wonderful flavor to the traditionally cheesy dish. The south-of-the-border twist on this comfort food was a great play on the pasta entrée.
May St Café – Truffled Chorizo Mac & Cheese
1146 W. Cermak
(312) 421-4442
Maystcafe.com

Surprisingly, out of all the restaurants, Famous Dave’s had one of the best macaroni and cheese dishes at the competition. Sometimes simplicity is appreciated more than a dish with too many bells and whistles. Famous Dave’s recipe kept their dish simple and delicious. The company used the flavor of sweet corn to sooth the spice of jalapeño and the combination couldn’t have been better.
Famous Dave’s – Corn and Jalapeño Mac & Cheese
15657 S. Harlem Ave
(708) 532-7850
famousdaves.com

I have always been a fan of Korean dishes, so I was really excited to see a Korean-inspired spin on macaroni and cheese. The dish mixed Kimchi, a famously fermented Korean seasoned vegetable side dish and traditional Korean BBQ flavored beef for a harmonious blend for a mac & cheese entrée.
Ritz Carlton – Kimchi Bulgogi Mac & Cheese
160 E Pearson St
(312) 573-5175
fourseasons.com/chicagorc/dining

If you ever get tired of the traditional style of eating your macaroni and cheese from a bowl or just want to make your food more mobile, Creative Conecepts has your problem totally solved. This company created a variety of flavored bread cones to accompany your mac and cheese. At the competition, the garlic and tomato basil cones were a hit!
Creative Conecepts’ – Asiago Bacon Mac & Cheese in a Garlic bread cone
Creativeconecepts.com

Sometimes you just need a taste of New Orleans flavor. I never knew this flavor could be combined with macaroni and cheese. This dish combined 4 cheeses, crawfish and Andouille turkey sausage for a mac & cheese dish with a jambalaya feel.
BourbonQue – 4 Cheese crawfish and Turkey Andouille Sausage Mac N Cheese
(312)480 – 1180
bourbonque.net

With proceeds going to Ronald McDonald House Charities in the Chicagoland area and Northwest Indiana, Kitty O’Sheas took home the Golden Noodle with their decadent short rib, corn bread and tobacco onions with a salted caramel drizzle dish.

That’s all for now, but until next time, stay cheesy, Chicago!