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Voting & Judging
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10th Anniversary Mac ’n’ Cheese Throwdown
A Decade of Delicious. A Decade of Doing Good for Kids in Need.
From crowd favorites to culinary excellence, the Mac ’n’ Cheese Throwdown celebrates mac at every level. Here’s how winners are chosen.
People’s Choice Voting
Your tastebuds decide.
The People’s Choice Award is voted on by the public throughout the event. Guests are encouraged to taste widely, debate passionately, and vote honestly.
How to Vote (It’s Easy!)
Text to vote in three simple steps:

1
Text
Text MAC to a 66866
2
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Click the survey link to vote for your choice for Best Mac!
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Vote
Choose your favorite and click "Submit"!
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Awards
Voting is open from 12:00 PM – 3:30 PM. Competitors are encouraged to promote People’s Choice voting throughout the day and in the week leading up to the event.
Stick around for the award ceremony on stage at 3:45PM.
Judge’s Choice Awards
Blind. Independent. Deliciously serious.
Judge’s Choice awards are determined by a panel of independent judges who conduct blind tastings during the event. Judges do not see vendor booths, branding, or service teams during evaluation. Each dish is judged solely on its own merit.
Judging takes place between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM while guests continue to taste and enjoy the event.
Judge’s Choice Categories
Judge’s Choice – Classic Mac: Recognizing excellence in traditional mac ’n’ cheese technique and flavor.
Judge’s Choice – Modern Mac: Honoring creativity, innovation, and forward-thinking interpretations of mac ’n’ cheese. (anything goes!)
Meet Our Judges
Our judges bring deep experience in food, culture, and storytelling—each offering a unique perspective while sharing a common love of great mac ’n’ cheese.

Judge #1
Monica Robins
Senior Health Correspondent, WKYC
Monica Robins is the Senior Health Correspondent at WKYC Studios in Cleveland, specializing in health and medical reporting. A Pittsburgh native, Monica enjoys weight lifting, running, and riding her Harley-Davidson motorcycle. She’s also the lead singer of two bands—Monica Robins and the Whiskey Kings and The Ninja Cowboys.
Find her on social media at @monicarobinswkyc.
Judge #2
Michael Januska
Owner, Old Brooklyn Cheese Co.
Michael Januska brings more than 27 years of experience in the restaurant industry. A culinary school graduate, his passion for cheese deepened while working at Neal’s Yard Dairy in Covent Garden, London. That experience sparked a lifelong commitment to old-world food traditions and craftsmanship.
Judge #3
Paris Wolfe
Life & Culture Reporter
Cleveland.com | Plain Dealer
Paris Wolfe has written about food and dining for more than three decades. A Northeast Ohio native, she is passionate about sourcing and cooking local foods, thoughtful entertaining, and exploring regional food cultures. Follow her on Instagram at @pariswolfe.
A Fair & Flavor-Forward Celebration
Whether you’re voting from the crowd or judging from the table, every decision at the Mac ’n’ Cheese Throwdown is rooted in fairness, transparency, and a shared love of great food.

Voting & Judging

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Awards

Judge’s Choice Awards

Meet Our Judges

Our judges bring deep experience in food, culture, and storytelling—each offering a unique perspective while sharing a common love of great mac ’n’ cheese.

Judge #1

Monica RobinsSenior Health Correspondent, WKYC

Judge #2

Michael JanuskaOwner, Old Brooklyn Cheese Co.

Judge #3

Paris WolfeLife & Culture ReporterCleveland.com | Plain Dealer

A Fair & Flavor-Forward Celebration

Monica Robins
Senior Health Correspondent, WKYC

Michael Januska
Owner, Old Brooklyn Cheese Co.

Paris Wolfe
Life & Culture Reporter
Cleveland.com | Plain Dealer