Competing against some of the Central Coast’s best restaurants and caterers, a small grill in Bakersfield gas stations claimed the top prize at the sixth Central Coast Mac and Cheese Fest on Saturday at Avila Beach Golf Resort.
Countryside Grill, found inside of Brookside Market, featured a savory Chile Verde macaroni and cheese and completed an unlikely sweep of events in Bakersfield and Avila Beach. Countryside won its second consecutive Bakersfield title in April, and improved upon its 2016 second-place finish at Avila Beach.
With nearly 2,000 people enjoying the food, wine, craft beer and spirits (and there were plenty of sweets too), Countryside Grill’s collection of orange beaded necklaces, which determined the winner, was overflowing and there was a line of fans to cast their votes for Bakersfield’s mac and cheese champs. At the end of the day, Countryside edged out the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District’s kitchen, the 2015 champs, and Jeffry’s Catering of Templeton, the 2016 champions.
It was the first time in the Mac and Cheese Festival’s history that a competitor has swept a pair of competitions in the same year. American General Media, the parent company of kernradio.com, is the owner of the Mac and Cheese Fest.
