

“Seize your stretchy pants.”
That’s the recommendation from the Peterborough Downtown Enterprise Enchancment Space (DBIA) concerning the Peterborough Mac + Cheese Pageant, which returns in October with 19 mac and cheese dishes obtainable at taking part downtown Peterborough eating places.
The second annual celebration of native meals and the abilities of native cooks runs for the whole month of October. It’s a self-guided competition, so carb lovers can indulge as typically as they like, alone or with household and pals. There are each conventional and modern mac and cheese dishes, with vegan and gluten-free choices additionally obtainable. A map of the taking part eating places is accessible beneath.
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“It’s the best primary consolation meals, and all of us want a bit of consolation popping out of COVID and all of the restrictions,” mentioned DBIA government director Terry Guiel throughout a launch occasion on Wednesday morning (September 28) at The Meals Store at 374 Water Road.
As soon as once more this 12 months, downtown eating places can be vying to be topped Mac + Cheese Champion, an honour bestowed final 12 months on Sam’s Place Deli for his or her Jalapeño Bacon Mac + Cheesewich.
“We had been past proud to be chosen by the Peterborough Group because the winner for 2021, and we had loads of enjoyable developing with our sandwich recipe,” says Sam’s Place Deli proprietor Sam Sayer. “It was an incredible feeling to carry that trophy above our heads, We are able to’t wait to compete once more this 12 months. Greater than something, we’re excited to see what the opposite cooks can be bringing to the desk this fall.”

Foodies will have the ability to vote on-line for his or her favorite mac and cheese dishes all month lengthy, with the victor chosen by the tip of October — receiving bragging rights for the 12 months, a tacky hand-crafted trophy, and a large donation of their title to Kawartha Meals Share.
Earlier this 12 months, the Peterborough DBIA gained the very best particular occasion and promotion award from the Ontario Enterprise Enchancment Space Affiliation for the inaugural Peterborough Mac + Cheese Pageant.
“The thought for this mac and cheese competition actually got here from the truth that we’re in a college and faculty neighborhood,” Guiel mentioned. “I keep in mind my time in faculty, and the primary meals all of us ate was Kraft mac and cheese.”
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However in contrast to that straightforward field of macaroni with cheese product, the 19 dishes being supplied by downtown eating places through the Peterborough Mac + Cheese Pageant embody some adventurous choices similar to Whistle Cease’s Mac n Cheese Poutine, DR. J’s Mac in a Waffle Bowl, La Mesita’s El Diablo Mac + Cheese, Crepes of Wrath Mac + Cheese Crepe, and Tragically Dipped Holly Macaroni — a donut-shaped mac and cheese. A full record of all 19 dishes is accessible beneath.
“We’re the culinary capital of the area and a few of our eating places are the very best within the area,” Guiel mentioned. “It’s nice to see them take this quite simple mac and cheese idea and switch it right into a culinary luxurious merchandise.”
One once more this 12 months, the Peterborough Mac + Cheese Pageant can be partnering with Kawartha Meals Share to run a meals drive. Through the competition, every taking part restaurant can be accepting non-perishable donations. Pageant-goers are inspired to convey their donations downtown when visiting any of the taking part eating places.

New to this 12 months’s competition is a make-at-home recipe problem for budding dwelling cooks. Together with a recipe for final 12 months’s profitable Jalapeño Bacon Mac + Cheesewich, an area mac recipe is accessible on the competition’s web site.
Curated in partnership with The Meals Store, the native mac recipe options handmade pasta from the Pasta Store paired with native cheeses, milk, and stone-ground flour. All of the substances for the native mac recipe could be discovered at The Meals Store on Water Road.
Sponsored by Shorelines On line casino, the Peterborough Mac + Cheese Pageant runs from Saturday, October 1st till Monday, October thirteenth. For extra info, go to www.ptbomacandcheesefest.com and comply with the competition on Instagram and Fb.
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Mac and Cheese Dishes
Adventurous Macs

- BrickHouse No Eff’n Approach Mac Burger
- Whistle Cease’s Mac n Cheese Poutine
- DR. J’s Mac in a Waffle Bowl
- Tragically Dipped Holly Macaroni (gluten free)
- Champs Spinach Mac + Cheese Dip
- Boardwalk’s Mactoberfest
- Actual Thai’s Mac + Cheese Bowl
- La Mesita’s El Diablo Mac + Cheese
- Crepes of Wrath Mac + Cheese Crepe
- The Soiled Butter Rooster Mac
- Amandalas Cheese + “Howcutearewe”
Vegan Macs

- Forest Vegan Mac (Gluten Free)
- Nateure’s Plate Mac n Please
- Grilled Cheesewich
- Sam’s Mac & Cheese Loafwich
- Maple Moose Grilled Cheese
Basic Macs

- El (P) Creamy 3-Cheese Chorizo BeerMac
- McThirsty’s McTastic Mac
- Criminal and Coffer’s Mac + Cheese Brulee
- Black Horse Candy Potato Mac
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Mac Map
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