Photos: Chicago Gets Creative At The Mac & Cheese Fest
By Anthony Todd in Food on Oct 26, 2015 8:01PM
By Kailley Lindman
We came, we saw, we conquered veritable pounds of mac and cheese creations from many of Chicago’s hottest restaurants. Chicago’s second annual Mac and Cheese Fest proved a great success, drawing more than 4,000 attendees and 100 local vendors over the course of two three-hour sessions. Some restaurant vendors showcased their signature, menu-ready takes on the cheesy comfort food classic, while others took more experimental approaches; surprisingly, no two dishes were the same.
While the day was chiefly about celebrating Chicago’s culinary talent and America’s favorite noodle dish, there was also an unmistakable competitive atmosphere as vendors pursued the votes of enthusiastic eaters for the chance to take home the Golden Noodle trophy on display on the event’s main stage. Ultimately, however, AMK Kitchen Bar’s signature mac-n-cheese and Auntie Vee’s savory mac and cheese bread pudding won the coveted Noodle for the lunch and dinner sessions, respectively.
Other noteworthy contenders included Carnivale’s inventive “mac and cheesecake,” Rockit Bar and Grill's tangy buffalo mac and cheese, and our favorite: The Ogden’s smoked mac and cheese with wild mushrooms.