S'MACdown: S'MAC Mac-n-Cheese Competition

Beginning on May 6, macaroni and cheese lovers, aficionados and self-professed professionals were given the opportunity to share their creations in a S'MACdown sponsored by S'MAC.


Competitors were allowed to create any mac & cheese dish -- no ingredient off limits. 2 out of the 4 finalists choose bacon (the bacon craze doesn't seem to be losing steam just yet).


The live judging event took place on  May 19 at the Murray Hill S'MAC location. The panel of judges included S'MAC owner Sarita Ekya, Barbara Rich, consulting chef for S'MAC, and Tom Birchard, owner of Veselka who tasted and deliberated over the four finalist creations.

Brontis Shane Orengo's mac & cheeggs, S'MACdown finalist creation

Mac & cheeggs (cheese and eggs) is a creation by Brontis Shane Orengo. In addition to the bacon and eggs adorning the dish, there are scrambled eggs and chunks of slab bacon mixed into the Vermont cheddar and Monterrey Jack macaroni and cheese.

S'MACdown judges taste the avocado mac & cheese entry from Ginamarie

Ginamarie chose to include avocado in her S'MACdown entry because of its "superfood" status and the healthy fat in avocado whereas the fats in cheese may not always be considered healthy. She blended together the avocado, cilantro, onion and spinach in what can be called a guacamole sauce and used Monterrey Jack and cheddar cheese.

Skillet mac & cheese with artichokes and bacon

S'MACdown finalists, Ray and Willis describe their skillet mac & cheese creation

Skillet mac & cheese made with manchego, gruyere, artichoke hearts and bacon is the finalist S'MACdown entry from Ray and Willis.

S'MACdown finalist, Angela White describes her dish to the judges

Inspired by Cinco de Mayo, finalist Angela White's entry was a southwestern-themed mac & cheese dish made with a mix of Monterrey Jack, cheddar and provolone cheeses, tomato and chicken topped with homemade tortilla chips. She's the go-to in her family for mac & cheese.

S'MACdown winner, Ginamarie with S'MAC owner Sarita Ekya and judges

Ginamarie's recipe will be featured on the S'MAC menu at all the locations for one-month. Be sure to order your nosh; it's creamy and flavorful. Her winning avocado mac and cheese is a dish she'd only made once before entering the competition. Now it will be cooked and enjoyed many times over.


More #eatMYSMAC photos on Instagram

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