America’s favorite comfort food will grace the city of Chicago in an unprecedented ode to the cheesiest fest to hit Chicago.
Mac & Cheese Fest on October 24 celebrates the dish by featuring variations spanning continents and cultures. Explore the culinary genius of approximately 50 chefs as they carefully prepare exquisite versions of your favorite rainy day dish. Participating restaurants will forever transform your perception of your childhood favorite; from truffle braised duck mac & cheese to white cheddar and chorizo macarón con queso all paired with beer, wine and spirits!
Dressing mac & cheese to impress, chefs compete for your palate’s applause in The Golden Noodle competition. The Golden Noodle recognizes, like an all-knowing noodle-shaped statuette against the wall, who by far has the tastiest mac & cheese dish of all. Each restaurant will compete for this honor, and it is your mission, should you choose to accept it, to change the game for mac & cheese lovers everywhere. Voting is open to attendees with some help from a panel of foodie judges as well.
Indulge in this decadent carb-loading day guilt free: a portion of all proceeds benefits Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana.
The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana (RMHC-CNI) is to care for families of children with complex medical needs by providing comfort, compassion and a sense of community. The five Ronald McDonald Houses provide a ‘home away from home’ to keep families together while their child is in the hospital. Every night, 153 families are able to heal together because of the comfort, compassion and community found at each of our Ronald McDonald Houses.
Located near Advocate Children’s Hospital, Central DuPage Hospital, Loyola University Medical Center, University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital, and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, the Houses allow families to eat, sleep and find the emotional support they need – just blocks from where their child is being treated. This year, they’ll provide over 43,000 nights to families during their greatest hours of need. While they suggest a donation of $10 per night, no family is ever turned away if they are unable to pay.
The three Ronald McDonald Family Rooms located in Edward Hospital in Naperville, at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago and at Comer Children’s Hospital at the University of Chicago Medicine provide a haven of respite and hospitality for families whose children and newborns are receiving treatment. Located within the pediatric unit and featuring private sleep rooms with showers, a kitchenette, TV, and sitting areas, the space provides a home-like atmosphere, allowing families a moment to rest and rejuvenate.
Its Care Mobile program, in partnership with Advocate Children’s Hospital, provides essential health services to children in under-served areas in a mobile environment. Children receive check-ups, immunizations, and referrals for specialty care, including asthma, cardiology, and allergies. Their goal is to find a “health care home” for all the children seen on the Care Mobile.
