The EL(P) and Capra Toro Declared Co-Winners of Second Annual Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival

After a month of-long culinary competition, restaurants The EL (P) and Capra Toro have been crowned co-winners of the second annual Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival announced by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) on Thursday.

Nathan Manwell, Capra Toro chef (left) and Danea Humber, The EL (P) head chef (right) sharing in both restaurants’ first Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival title win. Photo courtesy of the DBIA.

The EL(P) earned their win with a three-cheese chorizo ‘beermac’ while Capra Toro created a baked Birra Formaggio for their winning dish.

“It’s beer and cheese man. What’s better than those two ingredients?” said Eric Beyer, EL(P) sous chef. “Mix in some chorizo and a fantastic cornbread (made in-house) by resident baker Kelsey and the dish just sings.”

“We are just so incredibly blown away at being crowned top mac this year,” said Nathan Manwell, Capra Toro chef.  “Last season we almost won, coming in second place. We are over-the-moon excited to bring home a win this time around.”

As the winners, both restaurants received a cheesy hand-crafted trophy, a sizable donation to Kawartha Food Share in their respective names and bragging rights.

Runner-ups included a spinach and artichoke mac and cheese dip from Champs Sports Bar, followed by The Black Horse Pub’s sweet potato mac.

During all of last month, there were 20 signature mac and cheese dishes featured in downtown restaurants as part of the competition.

Over 1,000 votes were cast to determine the top mac and cheese dish on offer.  

The winning recipe(s) from both years’ competitions are available online.

Sam’s Place won the inaugural Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival with a jalapeño bacon mac & cheesewich last year.

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