Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self,” and as a judge for the 2013 Chester County Mac & Cheese Cook-off, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Thorndale, I can say there was quite a lot of self-service digging into the day’s scrumptious offerings.
I know, I know, that’s not what the motto means. Thankfully, the service-oriented Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Thorndale take it seriously, and host fabulous events like this annual contest to fund its good works.
The Rotary Club of Thorndale was founded in 1995 by Jay Edge to service the Thorndale, Downingtown and Coatesville communities. The aim is to help the local and international community in many ways. Some of the group’s good deeds include feeding needy families during the holidays, supplying dictionaries for third graders, and supporting international projects in Africa.
And what a delicious way to make sure the Rotary Club may continue to contribute. The following cooked up their best and most unique mac & cheese dishes to wow the judges and the kids of all ages in the nearly 1,000-person crowd:
Restaurants:
- Say Cheese! Restaurant and Cheese (West Reading)
- Bordley House Grille (West Chester)
- Molly Maguire’s Irish Restaurant and Pub (Downingtown)
- Victory Brewing Co (Downingtown)
- Corporal Dee BBQ (Exton)
- Amani’s BYOB (Downingtown)
Businesses:
- Freedom Village Brandywine (Coatesville)
- Harrison House of Coatesville (Coatesville)
Individuals:
- The Keen Brothers
- Carb Queens
When all was said and done, here’s why, in my judge-y opinion, these were the victors:
Judges’ Choice Restaurant: Say Cheese! for Smoked Salmon Mac & Cheese
Don’t like fish? You will after sampling this smoky goodness. Generous noodles and mild cheese enhanced but didn’t overpower the bite-size salmon pieces. Just-right creaminess gave this dish a great finish.
Judges’ Choice Business: Harrison House for Mac-ed Out
A contest was held at Harrison House, and the winner showed up in style. The macaroni had some bite left in it, which melded well with the slightly tart tomato. Again, the creamy cheese was prominent, but let the rest of the dish shine.
Judges’ Choice Individual: Carb Queens for Mac & Cheese Muffins
You could pop these babies right into your mouth thanks to the skillful mix of tiny macaroni, meaty and flavorful cheeses (did I detect some cheddar?) and a bready binder. Though not gooey, this was amazingly cheesy with points for fun.
People’s Choice: Amani’s BYOB for Smoked Short Rib Mac & Cheese
The line was long and the perfectly smoked short rib incorporated into soft cheese and noodles was why. The rib meat was savory with a hint of sweet, and that full-flavored ingredient stole the show in this dish.
Kids’ Choice: a tie between Freedom Village for Braised Short Rib and Cheddar topped with fire-roasted tomato and scallions and Harrison House for Mac-ed Out
Freedom Village’s tie in this category shows the growing variety young palates enjoy these days. This was a very flavorful dish starring deep flavors from the braising and the tang of cheddar that was taken to another level with the sweet tomato and oniony finish.
Learn more about the Rotary Club of Thorndale’s projects here. And bookmark that page so you can mark your calendar for the 2014 Chester County Mac & Cheese Cook-off.
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