Tompkins tastiest tradition is back, the 5th annual Mac ‘n Cheese bowl returns

By Zoe Merod
Tompkins Weekly

 

Among the comfort foods that warm the soul – a savory bowl of chicken soup, a steaming plate of pancakes with syrup – creamy mac and cheese makes the list. At the 5th Annual Mac N’ Cheese Bowl benefiting Foodnet Meals on Wheels, on Saturday, March 17, community members will have the opportunity to sample and vote for their favorite version of the cheesy dish offered by 19 local restaurants and chefs. Taking part in this event will support an organization that provides invaluable services to Tompkins County.

Foodnet Meals on Wheels provides up to 700 meals daily to over 400 older adults and those who are unable to shop and cook for themselves. This vital service provides those community members with the resources they need to live independently and to create meaningful social relationships. Along with meal delivery services and social dining experiences, Meals on Wheels provides comprehensive nutrition counseling to those in need to ensure their health and well-being. Jessica Gosa, Executive Director of Foodnet Meals on Wheels, said the priority of the organization is to provide older adults the food security they deserve and the opportunities they need to live well on their own.

The festivities will kick off 11:30 a.m. in the Ithaca High School cafeteria. Returning winners Cayuga Medical Center, Rogues’ Harbor Inn, Ithaca Ale House and Red’s Place will all be competing to hold their title of best mac and cheese in the Ithaca area. Vegetarian options will be available, as always, from caterers such as Greenstar Natural Foods Market. The event is family-friendly, as it has been for the past four years running. Everyone is welcome, and kids even get their own corner, complete with a visit from Crossroads the Clown. Kids will have an opportunity to vote for their own favorite mac n’ cheese recipe as well in the “Kid’s Choice” competition. It is an experience to celebrate the Tompkins community and Foodnet Meals on Wheels, which contributes to the high quality of life achieved in the community.

While attendees make their way around to taste mac n’ cheese from each booth, the smooth sounds of Indie/Folk will accompany the smell of warm, melted cheese with performances by the band “Sixteen Feathers” and rock-inspired tunes from the band “Meander,” both are Ithaca music scene regulars.

Proceeds from the event go directly towards the organization’s effort to provide continuous support for those in need of meals delivered to their door. Tickets can be bought ahead of time online at, macncheesebowl5.brownpapertickets.com/, as well as in stores around the Ithaca area such as at Wegmans and Collegetown Bagels (Downtown Aurora Street and Cornell University Collegetown locations). The tickets are being sold as $10 for adults and $8 for children over 5. As always, tickets will be available at the door on the day of the event for $12 for adults, $10 for kids and children under 5 get in for free. The 4th Annual Bowl last year raised $17,000 and the goal this year is to exceed that amount and set a new record. Gosa stressed the community as such an essential part of this organization’s success. Participating in this tasty event is a way that the community demonstrates their support.

Gosa remembers fondly last year’s 4th annual event as a wonderful gathering and celebration of the community. “I was completely touched by the generosity of the community,” she said, noting that it is truly a combination of community support and restaurant involvement that makes this event so memorable. “Our restaurant and caterer competitors make the Bowl magical,” adding her appreciation for the competitors who pack the event full of flavor. “I am so impressed by the creativity and fun they put into their dishes each year.”

Scott Stull, an Ithaca resident, echoed Gosa’s sentiment, recalling his experience.

“We don’t think of mac and cheese as particularly complex, but here the range of twists on the classic dish is astonishing,” Stull said. “With something that is so every day you can buy it in a box, it’s the inventiveness – added spices or bacon – that makes these local mac and cheese recipes so unique.”

Just as Foodnet Meals on Wheels service provides “more than a meal,” this 5th annual event is “more than mac n’ cheese.” It’s about showing support for the larger organization’s cause. In fact, it’s even bigger than the county. This event aligns with the national campaign, Meals on Wheels America’s March for Meals, which takes place in the month of March. Across the country, communities are coming together to support this cause and commend the crucial work that this national organization does all year round. The people who make this organization run smoothly – from the directors who plan and organize to the nutritionists who create balanced meal plans for optimal health to those who deliver the meals right to the doors of those in need, providing a warm human touch – deserve recognition and appreciation for their dedication to older adults in need. Together with the community, Foodnet Meals on Wheels promotes happiness, health, and security in the lives of those who are most vulnerable.