It’s amazing how fast an event can become a highly-anticipated annual tradition. It’s equally amazing that such an event can be about something as mundane as…macaroni and cheese.
And yet, such a thing has taken hold every January in Collingswood.
It’s time once again for the Mac Off, brought to you by The Food Bank of South Jersey. Only in its third year, they have had to move this event every year to a larger location to handle the crowds of people. This year the Mac off is being held at the Scottish Rite Ballroom on the White Horse Pike. The price remains $10 for adults and $5 for kids under 12, and the money helps to cover the cost of the supplies needed by the chefs to make their creations.
And speaking of the chefs, there will be another nice group of chefs competing – including Chef Mark Smith from Tortilla Press and Tortilla Press Cantina, Chef Alex Capasso from Blackfish and West Side Gravy, and Chef Jim Malaby from blueplate. In all, there will be a dozen chefs bringing their mac and cheese creations.
For a big event like this, you need a big judge to help determine who will rule the day. How about Big Daddy, aka Chef Aaron McCargo? Comfort food is Chef Aaron’s forte, so he will be right in his element.
We are planning to bring the family on Monday and partake in the cheese goodness. If you see us, come over and say hi.
What’s the weekend looking like? Getting colder again, for one thing.
Tonight is the first of the Robert Burns Dinners, this one taking place at High Street Grill in Mount Holly. The evening starts at 7PM. The cost is $75 per person, but please call first and see if there are any tickets left.
Saturday is a great day if you enjoy wine and beer. You have two wine festivals: the Winter Wine Festival at Renault Winery in Egg Harbor City and the “Kick The Winter Blues” Wine Festival at Natali Vineyards in Cape May Court House. Tomorrow is also the first annual Gloucester City Craft Beer Festival at Pine Grove Fire Hall. The festival is from 2PM to 6PM and costs $45 per person.
And on Sunday, the Vegetarian Society of South Jersey is having a Children’s Potluck Party at the Newfield Terrace Community Center in Newfield. The party will be going from 4PM to 6:15PM, and the suggested donation is $2 for adults, $1 for kids and $5 for families.
If mac and cheese is not your speed, or if you are ambitious and want to do multiple food things, Monday is the first of a series of Beoir Scoil (aka Beer School) lectures and tastings at Dubh Linn Square Pub in Cherry Hill. School starts at 6:30PM, and the cost is $20 per person. More on Dubh Linn Square in an upcoming post.
Here’s your cooking class schedule for the weekend:
Today: Best of Class: Cocktail Party at Viking Cooking School at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, Date Night: Surf and Turf at Sur La Table in Marlton, and a Sushi Making Workshop at Kitchen Kapers in Moorestown.
Saturday: Family Fun: Cupcakes! at Sur La Table, Best of Class: Grilling Seafood at Viking Cooking School, and Tapas! The Best of Finger Food at Kitchen Kapers.
Sunday: Kids in the Kitchen: The Cupcake Corner at Kitchen Kapers and Best of Class: Italian-Inspired Dinner at Viking Cooking School.
Blogging Out Hunger
Food pantries in Tuckerton and Egg Harbor Township are in need of more funding for larger facilities.
And in the news this week…
Of course the big boffo news this week was the passage of the direct shipping bill for wineries. Very happy that our state legislators took care of business on this one. The joy is tinged with some sadness, though, due to the fact that Assemblyman Alex DeCroce collapsed and died during the same late-night session on Monday. Prayers go out to his family and friends.
Two more food delivery people were attacked and robbed this week. Very upsetting.
Venice Italian Eatery in Pitman, which makes a ton of free meals on Thanksgiving, recently offered a pizza making class to adults with developmental disabilities. Very uplifting.
Restaurant news: another Iron Chef is going to have a place at the new Revel casino in AC, Manna in Margate is closing, and El Jose in Manahawkin will be taking their Mexican home cooking out of the gas station and into their own place…soon.
Restaurant news, again: Manco & Manco (nee Mack & Manco’s) is now going to close its Ninth Street location during the week in the off-season? I can’t take any more change!!!
Sammich lovers, listen up! The Sandwich of the Year Contest at Landis MarketPlace in Vineland is letting you the eating public taste some of the entries. The judging will take place on February 4.
Homebrewers, relax! Jersey no longer requires you to pay for a $15 permit in order to homebrew. And I bet I know what your response to this news will be: We had to buy a permit?
Think Future Farmers of America is an organization from the distant past here in Jersey? Think again.
On the heels of an article talking about fast food joints leaving Cape May County…health food stores are on the rise!
And congrats to Chelten House in Logan Township, winner of the 2011 Sauce of the Year award from The Association from Dressings and Sauces. Their winning condiment was their Hot and Sweet Mustard.
Enjoy your weekend! Say good luck to El Jose on Saturday (their last day at the gas station) and to DeLorenzo’s on Sunday (their last day at the Hudson Street location)!
Wish I could go to the Mac off but not this year. Have fun!