County of Macomb issued the following announcement on Mar. 3.
After a successful launch in 2021, the Mac Madness: Best Mac in the Mac contest is returning for a second year to find the best housemade macaroni and cheese in Macomb County. The contest, which is organized by Macomb County Planning and Economic Development (MCPED), will promote local restaurants that specialize in preparing this noodle dish from scratch.
“When we created Mac Madness in 2021, our goal was to help restaurants recover from a very challenging year brought on by the pandemic,” said Vicky Rowinski, director, MCPED. “We were thrilled with the response we saw from the community, so we decided to channel that excitement into a competition for 2022. I know there are countless made in Macomb mac ‘n cheese dishes that deserve recognition and we hope to shine the spotlight on as many as we can. But ultimately, we’re looking to crown this year’s big cheese, so let the games begin!”
Restaurants that offer any type of housemade macaroni and cheese are encouraged to enter the contest here starting March 4 through March 11. Additional rules for entrants include:
- The macaroni and cheese must be housemade
- Only independently owned and operated restaurants are eligible
- The restaurant must be located within Macomb County
- National franchises are excluded
- There is only one entry per restaurant and the public cannot submit on behalf of a restaurant – only self-submissions are allowed
Once the portal closes, entrants will be featured in a public vote period called Mac Madness 2022, where restaurants face off in a bracket-style competition. Public voting will start March 17, and restaurants will be narrowed down to the final two. The top vote getter from that face-off will win:
- A $2,500 grant from Macomb County
- The Best Mac in the Mac plaque
A $1,000 grant will also be awarded to the second place restaurant, while the third and fourth runners up will receive $500 each.
In 2021, sixteen establishments went head-to-head in the competition, with Sherwood Brewing Company coming out on top. Second place was awarded to Simple Palate in Warren, third place was Jayell Smoke House in Romeo and fourth place was Bistro Orleans in Sterling Heights.
Original source can be found here.
