By  Peter Covino
Lifestyles Editor

Mom probably never made mac & cheese like this but that was what the inaugural Kissimmee Ultimate Macaroni and Cheese challenge was all about.

The event, hosted by Vintage Vino in downtown Kissimmee last Saturday, attracted 15 contestants, some from as far as away as Naples (Florida) to see who could come up with the best recipe for mac & cheese. The event also raised money for the Sunshine Foundation Dream Village for children.

There were some amazing varieties of mac & cheese, including a dessert blend with apples and cheddar as well as others that used more exotic cheeses such as gorgonzola.

But the big winner Saturday was Amanda Trim, of Kissimmee, for her own recipe “Italian Garlic Lovers” macaroni and cheese.

The winning concoction included various cheeses as well as chicken, olive oil and prosciutto.

All of the contestants had to pay a $20 entry fee as well as prepare two large trays of mac & cheese for a hungry crowd of mac & cheese lovers. The mac & cheese enthusiasts paid for the privilege to sample and vote for their favorites with proceeds again going to the Sunshine Foundation. About $2,500 was raised at the event.

Big winner Trim said the victory would go a long way toward “bragging rights” at a family reunion in July.

Finishing second in the competition was Kelly Trace, executive director of Kissimmee Main Street. Trace said her winning entry was the result of searching  through “a bunch of recipes” online.

The third place mac & cheese went to Dawn Bryant, affectionately known as “Madame Mac” by those who love her mac & cheese. Bryant read about the competition online and drove up all the way from Naples. She entered two varieties of mac & cheese for the event, her personal favorite, and one she has been making variations of since she was 7, “magical” jalapeno and bacon mac & cheese featuring six different kinds of cheese.

“The kids call it magical,” she said.  She also made an all-vegetable mac & cheese, her Garden of Eden blend, consisting of five cheeses, mushrooms and spinach.

The top three contenders won prizes and get to move onto the second part of the ultimate challenge and pit their mac & cheese against that of recipes from professionals.

John Siudut, of Vintage Vino, said details for the second part of the competition are still being worked out, but it will probably be held in June or July.

“We have to work with the schedules of the winners,” he said, as well as line up some professional challengers.

Suido said the voting format would probably be the about the same as Saturday’s event: voters pay to get a scorecard and sample all of the competing recipes. Then they get a bowl full of their favorite mac & cheese, as well as a glass of wine.

It was a well-attended event on Saturday, with both contestants and voters apparently getting their full of mac  & cheese.

Among the recipes were a mac & cheese using kielbasa (Polish sausage) and another using cayenne pepper and white wine.

“It’s an adult mac and cheese,” explained its creator, Nancy Mott.

Other mac & cheeses competitors included Kissimmee Police Department officer Brian West and his wife Tena.

Both entered their own variety of mac & cheese.

“Actually she surprised me,” said West. His wife had told him she planned on entering the competition. She neglected to tell him she had entered him as well.

West what Tena called his “Man Mac” recipe, which included goat cheese and bacon.

Rich Mergo, director of development for the Sunshine Foundation, was pleased with the event.

“It is very inspiring to see so many people,” he said. “There are lots of nice recipes. I am very appreciative to everyone.”

The Sunshine Foundation, which is located in Davenport, has helped more than 20,000 chronically ill, physically challenged and abused children in its 21 years of existence.

Any professional mac & cheese maker (chefs, restaurant owners, food truck operators etc.) are invited to take part in the second part of the ultimate challenge. For more information call John Siudut at 917-627-8432 or email john@vintagevino.com