Yes my friends, I would not tease you with such a splendid thought. That’s like telling someone that there’s bacon for breakfast but when you sit down to eat breakfast…there’s no bacon. So we have to throw out a big HELL YEAH to the first Gourmet Mac & Cheese Festival and the geniuses that thought of it! And where else could you possibly have a mac & cheese festival other than paradise? That’s right, it was right here in Paso Robles.
Mac & Cheese Could Rule the World!
I need to send a shout out to the crazy Cork Dorks and 92.5 The Krush for getting us into the event, but more on them in an article next week. The amazingness of a mac & cheese festival certainly deserves our full attention…doesn’t it?!?!
This event, which was put on by American General Media (owner of 92.5 The Krush), went to benefit Zoo to You, an amazing local animal rescue and mobile zoo. These folks absolutely rock and I STRONGLY encourage you to check out their website and if you’re in Paso Robles you HAVE to go check them out. It’s another one of those “things to see” in this awesome city we live in! As you’ll see in the slideshow below, there was quite a diverse group of animals there (a camel, birds, alligator, etc.), evidently they like mac & cheese too!!
This first year event was held at Le Vigne Winery (they have an absolutely gorgeous outside event area, again, check the photos) and had 20 participating wineries, one brewery (Tap It Brewery), and about 21 restaurants and caterers making the mac & cheese. There’s probably no need to tell you that Annie, who was celebrating her 32nd week of pregnancy on the day of this event, was in HEAVEN!! I’m sure Little Browne was too…just sayin’.
We didn’t get to all the mac & cheese samples but we tried some with bacon in it, there was a chili mac & cheese, one with lobster in it, and a fancy shmancy one with popcorn and other dustings of loveliness in it. The People’s Choice award went to Fenomenal (a restaurant in downtown Paso Robles) and the radio station gave an award, The Cork Dorks Choice, and they chose Marisol at The Cliff’s Resort (they also got 2nd place in the People’s Choice).
I am continually surprised at the quality of events that our area puts on. This is yet another event that did “crazy good” considering it was their first year. The weather was awesome, there was live music (two bands), the wine was flowing, the mac & cheese was Fenomenal (Get it? They won first place. Haha), a sold out crowd of great people, and it was all for a fantastic cause!
Did you go? What did I miss? And if you didn’t go, you better hope they put it on again next year so you can!!
Sorry I missed it!!! I went through your pictures and the pictures on the Cork Dorks website & there are no pictures of any MAC & CHEESE! I at least wanted to see some since I couldn’t be there to taste it. Sheesh. Glad Annie had to eat for 2. Way to get your $ worth.
LOL…no doubt right!! As for pics of the Mac & Cheese, good point…every time I went up near a booth there were tons of people. It was hard to get in there and “do work”. LOL. You better go next year!!
Checking out the wines…
What wines are you checking out Denise? The ones that were at this event??
Mac and cheese. The staff of life. Eat with a good Barbera.
I haven’t had a good Barbera for a while…good recommendation Gary. Hope you’re doing well and that harvest is running smoothly!!