COME eAT WITH US
Who makes the best Mac and Cheese? For the month of October, YOU can decide
20 glorious restaurants will be battling it out to become the top mac and cheese aficionado in downtown Peterborough.
For the month of October each resto will have a signature mac + cheese dish on offer, all competing for your vote.
Join us on this epic foodie adventure chock-full of carb-heavy goodness.
FESTIVAL dETAILS
#Dishcover Peterborough's most epic mac and cheese dish. For the month of October- 20 unique macs will be featured on local menus throughout the downtown restaurant scene.
Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival has something for everyone. We're talk'n vegans, cheegans, and even the carbivores.
Plan your mac adventure with our online Mac Map to scout out your favourite spots for dine-in or take out.
Host a dishcrawl with a group of friends or dine solo- the choice is yours ;)
VOTE
FOR YOUR fAVOURITE mAC
Who will be crowned
Mac + Cheese Champion?
With 18 restaurants to choose from the stakes couldn't be any higher.
Help put your fave mac and cheese creator on the map.
Vote for your top mac and sleep well knowing "you did your bit" to make downtown Ptbo just a little more cheesy.
By the end of October only one mac will reign supreme.
adventurous MacS
Handhelds
Classic Macs
FOLLOW OUR MAC ADVENTURE
@PtboMacandCheeseFestival
Local mac
mAKE-at-home
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
2 cups Pasta Shop noodles
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of pepper
Dash of tabasco sauce
1 cup of empire cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons Prince Edward County 1 year old parmesan
Directions
+ Preheat oven to 350. Grease small oven-proof dish set aside for later.
+ In a medium sauce pan melt butter, and whisk in flour until it forms a smooth paste. Add milk and whisk until smooth.
Bring a pot of salted water to boil. Cook fresh Pasta Shop shells for 8 minutes. Drain and return to pot.
+ Pour sauce over noodles, add 1 cup cheddar cheese, dash of tabasco to taste and season with salt and pepper. + Pour noodle mixture into greased oven dish and sprinkle parmesan on top.
Bake for 15-20 minutes.
onLY AT THE FOOD SHOP
We've curated a local, make-at-home recipe made with regional and artseaonal ingredients for a simple mac and cheese dish that will bake to perfection in any home-cooks oven.
Featuring handmade pasta from the Pasta Shop, paired with local cheese, ,milk, and stone-ground flour- this quick and easy recipe is a great entry level dish for any mac + cheese fan!
All the ingredients for out #official Local Mac is available at The Food Shop, located in the heart of downtown Peterborough at 374 Water Street.
2022 Winning Recipe
From the el p
Now you can make The El P's 2022 winning mac + cheese dish at home!
This Three Cheese and Chorizo Beer Mac will bring the flavour to any home-cooks table, and is absolutely sure to please the cheese-lover in us all (that's all of us, right?)
Ingredients
1 Cup - Powdered Parmesan
1 Cup Provolone
1 Cup Shredded Gruyere
1 Onion Minced
1 Cup Cooked Ground Chorizo Sausage
3 Cups Beer
4 Cups Heavy Cream
1/2 tsp of Nutmeg
0.5 Cup Roux
0.5 Cup Butter Salt & Pepper to Taste
Monterrey Jack to top.
Your Favourite Elbow Macaroni
INSTRUCTIONS
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Melt butter in a large pot and toss in minced onion. Sautéed until onions are soft and translucent – then mix in garlic. Once garlic starts to brown, deglaze with beer and simmer for 1-2 minutes.
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Add heavy cream and bring to a low boil adding handfuls of shredded Gruyère and provolone whisking continuously until melted and then add powdered parmesan.
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Add cooked ground chorizo sausage and nutmeg.
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Thicken with roux.
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Toss cooked macaroni in sauce once hot and place in oven safe dish.
Cover with shredded Monterrey jack cheese and place in oven at 375 degrees 5- 7 seven minutes or until cheese on top has melted.
Serve alongside your favourite corn bread (we recommend jalapeno!)
ENJOY
2021 Winning Recipe
From Sam's Place
Now you can make Sam's winning 2021 mac + cheese dish at home.
Sure to please the whole family this Jalapeño Bacon Mac + Cheesewich will bring glory to any home-cooks table.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups water
3.5 cups milk
1 pound macaroni noodles
.75 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 cups shredded cheese (cheddar)
2 ounces cream cheese
8 slices bacon cooked and crumbled ( or 1/2 lbs bacon ends, finely chopped and cooked)
1/2 cup minced jalapenos (jarred or fresh)
1 cup crumbled potato chips
1/4 cup parm
1/4 cup melted butter
One good loaf of Sourdough bread
Slice up a deli pickle for garnish (Sam's Place sells lovely ones at the resto)
INSTRUCTIONS
Melt the 2 tablespoons of butter in a pot over medium heat. Add the flour, then whisk until combined into a thick paste, about 30 seconds.
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Pour in the water and whisk until smooth and just thickened.
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Add the milk and whisk until combined.
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Stir in the macaroni, salt, garlic powder, onion powder and pepper, then bring the mixture to a simmer.
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Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is done.
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Turn the heat to low, then stir in the shredded and cream cheeses. Keep stirring until the sauce is smooth. Stir in the jalapeños and bacon.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
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In a medium bowl, mix together chips, parm and 1/4 Cup (melted) margarine. Place pasta in an oven safe dish and sprinkle the chip mixture evenly over the macaroni.
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Bake for 10 minutes or until topping is light brown.
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ALLOW TO COOL 10 MINUTES BEFORE CUTTING.
Cut pasta dish into 6 or 8 squares, place on two slices of buttered sourdough bread with a few slices of American cheddar (process cheese) and grill until the cheese has melted.
ENJOY
About Us
SAY HELLO TO YOUR NEW GUILTY PLEASURE
For the month of October join us on our humble quest to #dishcover downtown Peterborough's most epic mac + cheese.
A Mac + Cheese Festival where all your cheesy dreams come true. Featuring 19 downtown restaurants all serving an over the top mac + cheese dish. Restaurants will be competing for local votes to earn the glorious honour of having made Ptbo's best mac + cheese.
Who will reign supreme?
Let's find out, time to get cheesy.
PARTNERS
Peterborough Mac + cheese festival
acknowledges the land
The Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival respectfully acknowledges that we are located on the treaty and traditional territory of the Michi Saagig Anishnaabeg.
We offer our gratitude to the First Peoples who have been caretakers and inhabitants of the land since time immemorial.
Peterborough Mac and Cheese Festival respects the sovereignty of First Nations and acknowledges that the Williams Treaties First Nations are the stewards and caretakers of these lands and waters in perpetuity.