One of my absolute favorite events of the year is the Mac & Cheese Cook-Off at Capitol Market, held by the Laurance Jones, III Childhood Language Center. It's a fundraiser for a good cause that features my favorite food, made by a ton of local restaurants and organizations. It just doesn't get much better.
Contestants:
Breathe Wine & Culture Co.
Incorporating wine is such a clever idea for this business. Chardonnay and crispy prosciutto with aged white cheddar! This was one of my favorites for creativity and flavor.
The Kanawha Place
A creative spin incorporating pepperoni roll flavors. It was really creamy and had those flavors of pepperoni rolls - plus a side of crostini.
OhmyGreens
Smoked gouda, manchego, pecorino-romano all in a bechamel sauce with heavy cream. I know the intention was to add some basil pesto but supply was running low. That would've taken this to another level!
WV Corner Kitchen
A past winner, this is a solid standard macaroni & cheese with just a few little chives on top. Straightforward and reliable.
Sternwheel Regatta
If there was a winner for best booth, it would be them! They had a fun buffalo chicken macaroni and cheese taco - and a fun mascot to go with it! Bonus points for the taco concept to change things up!
Tondrea Davis-Powell
This newcomer hit a homerun with many of the chefs. Mine was on the cooler side, but I did enjoy the unique "several secret ingredients."
Niki Kurten & Chef Arden
Pimento cheese mac & cheese with gouda and goat cheese. I loved the goat cheese in here. It set them apart for me - and I miss Paterno's dearly and would kill for some Pasta Niki in my life.
Lobster TrappN
One of two lobster mac & cheese options of the day. This had fresh chunks of lobster, which was quite a surprise - that had to be pricey! But delish.
Dutch Miller Subaru
Smoked gouda, havarti, colby jack, Parmesan panko - a whole medley of cheeses with cavataappi pasta. A touch on the dry side for me (panko tends to do that), but tasty.
Nellita's Cocina
Nellita is taking over Charleston with her themed empanadas - and we love them. The Spicy Macanada was made to order and quite yummy. Carbs on carbs.
Manna Meal
My very first macaroni & cheese of the day! A really solid buffalo macaroni & cheese. Fresh, hot and a great first bite.
The Pitch
This may have been the most popular stall of the day; there was a constant line - and you can see why. Lobster macaroni & cheese will do that to you! And also maybe one of the only competitors with penne pasta?
Hope for All
"Grandma's Traditional Mac & Cheese" from a traditional recipe - incorporated ricotta, which is always a thumbs up for me.
New Horizons Church
This was one of my biggest surprises of the day - a Philly cheesesteak mac, and it was bomb. A little cool by the time I got to it, but nice hunks of steak and all that cheesesteak flavor goodness.
Stephen Fernandez
Caramel Apple. Apple butter. Points for most outside-the-box offering AND balancing flavor profiles. Savory and sweet always is a win in my book.
Capital Insurance Group
My personal favorite. It's sweet. It's piping hot. And there is so much fanfare around this table that it's an exciting experience. But, really, I would purchase this mac & cheese outside of the event if I could.
Bogey's
Silkiest cream sauce of the day! The bechamel with little elbows was a classic mac & cheese that would be the perfect side to any meal.
University of Charleston
Gruyere, white cheddar, cream = a very thick sauce. I think it's a good base that could use something crunchy or sweet or punchy on top to drive things home.
Hens & Heifers
White cheddar with cavatappi and a healthy dose of pepper. A lot of folks prefer their mac & cheese this way, but usually not my general preference.
Jillian Harmon
Both BBQ and plain mac & cheeses were available here. I loved the fresh scallions and hunks of cheese.
Shuckers
White cheddar, gouda, bacon mac & cheese. Good flavors, though the flavor got a little grainy for me.
Fife Brewing Company
Their homemade French onion dip is one of my favorite things - and they incorporated it into their mac & cheese with crispy onions. I liked the tanginess here.
Bridge Road Bistro
Another bacon mac & cheese but perfected crispy bacon and a touch of pepperiness.
Integrity Insurance
Just a little sweetness here, but I liked the hunks of cheese in this one, too.
Chick-Fil-A Town Center
We all know this mac & cheese, and it's not bad for a fast food mac & cheese. The little bits of browned cheese on top are my favorite parts.
Mountain Mac
These folks placed in my top 3. It was a very delicious straightforward mac & cheese, and then the pulled pork and BBQ added some layers of flavor that made it a bomb bite.
Rainbow Pride of WV
Always the most beautiful mac & cheese offering. And, totally on brand. Love these folks!
Cameron Vance - State Farm
Cheese and pepper was the name of the game here. Not bad.
Regatta Pro Wrestling
Slim Jims and Doritos - I'm almost mad that I really liked this one? I was surprisingly impressed, but it spoke to my junk food roots and I gladly finished my cup.
Children's Home Society
Creamy in a Velveeta kind of way - thick, lots of sauce.
WINNERS:
People's Choice
1. Mountain Mac
2. The Pitch
3. Integrity Insurance
Kid's Choice
1. Rainbow Pride
2. Chick-fil-A
3. Bridge Road Bistro
Judge's Choice
1. Tondrea Davis-Powell
2. Mountain Mac
3. Bogey's
Contestants:
Breathe Wine & Culture Co.
Incorporating wine is such a clever idea for this business. Chardonnay and crispy prosciutto with aged white cheddar! This was one of my favorites for creativity and flavor.
The Kanawha Place
A creative spin incorporating pepperoni roll flavors. It was really creamy and had those flavors of pepperoni rolls - plus a side of crostini.
OhmyGreens
Smoked gouda, manchego, pecorino-romano all in a bechamel sauce with heavy cream. I know the intention was to add some basil pesto but supply was running low. That would've taken this to another level!
WV Corner Kitchen
A past winner, this is a solid standard macaroni & cheese with just a few little chives on top. Straightforward and reliable.
Sternwheel Regatta
If there was a winner for best booth, it would be them! They had a fun buffalo chicken macaroni and cheese taco - and a fun mascot to go with it! Bonus points for the taco concept to change things up!
Tondrea Davis-Powell
This newcomer hit a homerun with many of the chefs. Mine was on the cooler side, but I did enjoy the unique "several secret ingredients."
Niki Kurten & Chef Arden
Pimento cheese mac & cheese with gouda and goat cheese. I loved the goat cheese in here. It set them apart for me - and I miss Paterno's dearly and would kill for some Pasta Niki in my life.
Lobster TrappN
One of two lobster mac & cheese options of the day. This had fresh chunks of lobster, which was quite a surprise - that had to be pricey! But delish.
Dutch Miller Subaru
Smoked gouda, havarti, colby jack, Parmesan panko - a whole medley of cheeses with cavataappi pasta. A touch on the dry side for me (panko tends to do that), but tasty.
Nellita's Cocina
Nellita is taking over Charleston with her themed empanadas - and we love them. The Spicy Macanada was made to order and quite yummy. Carbs on carbs.
Manna Meal
My very first macaroni & cheese of the day! A really solid buffalo macaroni & cheese. Fresh, hot and a great first bite.
The Pitch
This may have been the most popular stall of the day; there was a constant line - and you can see why. Lobster macaroni & cheese will do that to you! And also maybe one of the only competitors with penne pasta?
Hope for All
"Grandma's Traditional Mac & Cheese" from a traditional recipe - incorporated ricotta, which is always a thumbs up for me.
New Horizons Church
This was one of my biggest surprises of the day - a Philly cheesesteak mac, and it was bomb. A little cool by the time I got to it, but nice hunks of steak and all that cheesesteak flavor goodness.
Stephen Fernandez
Caramel Apple. Apple butter. Points for most outside-the-box offering AND balancing flavor profiles. Savory and sweet always is a win in my book.
Capital Insurance Group
My personal favorite. It's sweet. It's piping hot. And there is so much fanfare around this table that it's an exciting experience. But, really, I would purchase this mac & cheese outside of the event if I could.
Bogey's
Silkiest cream sauce of the day! The bechamel with little elbows was a classic mac & cheese that would be the perfect side to any meal.
University of Charleston
Gruyere, white cheddar, cream = a very thick sauce. I think it's a good base that could use something crunchy or sweet or punchy on top to drive things home.
Hens & Heifers
White cheddar with cavatappi and a healthy dose of pepper. A lot of folks prefer their mac & cheese this way, but usually not my general preference.
Jillian Harmon
Both BBQ and plain mac & cheeses were available here. I loved the fresh scallions and hunks of cheese.
Shuckers
White cheddar, gouda, bacon mac & cheese. Good flavors, though the flavor got a little grainy for me.
Fife Brewing Company
Their homemade French onion dip is one of my favorite things - and they incorporated it into their mac & cheese with crispy onions. I liked the tanginess here.
Bridge Road Bistro
Another bacon mac & cheese but perfected crispy bacon and a touch of pepperiness.
Integrity Insurance
Just a little sweetness here, but I liked the hunks of cheese in this one, too.
Chick-Fil-A Town Center
We all know this mac & cheese, and it's not bad for a fast food mac & cheese. The little bits of browned cheese on top are my favorite parts.
Mountain Mac
These folks placed in my top 3. It was a very delicious straightforward mac & cheese, and then the pulled pork and BBQ added some layers of flavor that made it a bomb bite.
Rainbow Pride of WV
Always the most beautiful mac & cheese offering. And, totally on brand. Love these folks!
Cameron Vance - State Farm
Cheese and pepper was the name of the game here. Not bad.
Regatta Pro Wrestling
Slim Jims and Doritos - I'm almost mad that I really liked this one? I was surprisingly impressed, but it spoke to my junk food roots and I gladly finished my cup.
Children's Home Society
Creamy in a Velveeta kind of way - thick, lots of sauce.
WINNERS:
People's Choice
1. Mountain Mac
2. The Pitch
3. Integrity Insurance
Kid's Choice
1. Rainbow Pride
2. Chick-fil-A
3. Bridge Road Bistro
Judge's Choice
1. Tondrea Davis-Powell
2. Mountain Mac
3. Bogey's
