Judging the 2014 Mac and Cheese Throwdown

My friends Susie of Girl Meets Fork and Kirti of Diya Marketing always put on great events, and the annual Mac 'n Cheese Throwdown is a crowd favorite.  Get your tickets when the event is announced because it sells out FAST. A fun event to attend, it's even better when you get to judge. 

Congrats to 2014 winners:

People’s Choice: District Kitchen and Wine Bar

3rd Place: Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy

2nd Place: District Kitchen and Wine Bar

1st Place: Talavera at the Four Seasons Scottsdale Troon North

My fellow judges Joanie and John

24 Carrots' vegan pumpkin-Hatch chile mac garnished with pomegranate seeds.

Pink Pony's orecchiette with green chili pork, beer cheese, quark, and pickled onions

Cafe ZuZu with andouille sausage, blackened shrimp, tomatoes, and a garnish of finger limes/lime caviar.

Buffalo mac 'n cheese from House of Comedy AZ. Third place winner

Chef Mel's (Talavera) winning mac 'n cheese with ditalini, chile, lobster and chorizo.

Social Box Neighborhood Eatery 4-cheese mac with roasted red peppers and poblanos, bacon, and toasted panko.

Cibo e Vino: Chef John Collura's mac 'n cheese with prosciutto and gemelli

District Kitchen's with Fontina cheese and bacon, topped with pretzel and Coco Puff crumb. Second place winner, and winner of People's Choice.

First place! Chef Mel and Emmanuel of Talavera

Chef Stephen Eldridge/Pink Pony team with Chef Mel

The winners and me. Fun night!