Tillamook Macaroni & Cheese Recipe Contest

Grand Finale Event Details

Entrance Ilan & Scott Buffet Dairy Princess Cookbook Guests Judges Finalists Getting Ready Crowd Kathy Opening Event Stage Ilan Martina Crowd Judge Kathi Michelle Catherine Cooking Watchers Cheers Kurt Widmer More Crowd Dish Chili Relleno More Cooking Melissa Kathi Angie Christy Ilan Cooking Ilan Cooking Again Stephanie Watching Harold Watching Cooking Catherine Catherine Garnishing Cole Judges Rhonda Judging Table Pretty Dish Dishing Up Melissa Dish Dishing more Garnished Dishes Angie Kathi Kathi's Dish Kathi Judging Waiting Finalists All Finalists Comments Dairy Judges Melissa Rhonda Kathi Angie Angie Winning Hugs Accepting Winning More Hugs All Finalists

The 2008 Tillamook Macaroni & Cheese Recipe Contest has come to an end. This year’s Grand Finale event was hosted by Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub with partner Widmer Brothers Brewing. Finalists from Michigan, New York, Washington state, California, Oregon and Arizona qualified to compete in the national Grand Finale Cook-off that took place on October 23, 2008 in Portland, Oregon. The six finalists competed, preparing their macaroni and cheese recipes from scratch in front of a live audience and a panel of 24 judges, including local celebrities and media.

Tillamook Cheese was proud to present celebrity chef and Bravo television network’s Top Chef winner Ilan Hall as the emcee of this year’s cook-off. In addition to Hall, celebrities and culinary experts judged the six comfort food dishes to declare a grand finale winner. Our grand finale winner, Angie Phillips, of Tarzana, California, took home $5,000 cash and the title of "The Big Cheese", a year supply of Tillamook® cheese and endless bragging rights for her Caramelized, Sweet Potato, Garlic & Rosemary Macaroni & Cheese.

Hundreds of foodies watched while Kells Executive Chef, Christy Fields demoed Kells Lager and Tillamook® Cheese Soup and Celebrity Chef, Ilan Hall, prepared his personal take on Macaroni and Cheese.

The 2008 finalists’ recipes featured ingredients ranging from apples and cornbread, to sweet potatoes and rosemary. Check out all of our 2008 finalists and their recipes below, to see all the final results please check out the 2008 Winners.

Contest Finalists

• Melissa LaCaille from Kirkland, Washington
  Cornbread Topped Apple Macaroni & Cheese
• Catherine Wilkinson from Dewey, Arizona
  Smoky Black Pepper Cheese and Macaroni with Wild Mountain Chanterelles
• Angie Phillips from Tarzana, California
  Caramelized Sweet Potato, Garlic & Rosemary Macaroni and Cheese
• Kathi Jones Del-Monte from Rochester, New York
  Tillamook Triple-Play Macaroni & Six Cheese Strata
• Jennifer Crackel from Bloomfield Township, Michigan
  Souffle Style Macaroni & Cheese
• Rhonda Allen from Lake Oswego, Oregon
  Tillamook Mac & Cheese Chile Relleno Pie

Contest Partners:

Widmer Brothers Brewing Company: 

Tillamook® was honored to partner with Widmer for the 2008 Macaroni & Cheese Recipe Contest grand finale festivities and cook-off. Widmer:  What began as a dream for two ordinary brothers who just loved beer is now a reality for two ordinary brothers who just love beer. For more information, visit www.Widmer.com.

Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub:

Tillamook® was thrilled to partner with Kells Portland who who graciously the 2008 Macaroni & Cheese Recipe Contest grand finale cook-off. Kells is a touchstone in the Portland community and serves all people from all walks of life as a place to come home, relax, share and experience life. People can enjoy excellent service and delicious food amongst an outstanding atmosphere at Kells.  For more information, visit www.kellsirish.com.