BETHLEHEM, Pa. – At ArtsQuest in Bethlehem, it was a vegan mac’n cheese lover’s dream as the annual S’mac Down returned.
“We landed here in 2018 and we’re really excited that even post-pandemic we’re able to bring it back,” said Hilari Stahler, executive director of Lehigh Valley Vegan.
The event featured different kinds of mac’n cheese from seven different restaurants in the area.
Stahler started the cheesy event in the basement of a church in 2017.
“It was all home chefs and 600 people showed up,” said Stahler.
The event continues to grow featuring restaurants like Jannica Covington’s Momma Nicca’s Homemade Things.
“So, I’m serving a vegan soul mac’n cheese,” said Covington.
It is a dish her grandmother would make that she’s sharing with everyone.
“Some people even from this, I’ve catered some of their events or you know they’ve come to some of my pop-ups and stuff like that, so it’s pretty cool,” said Covington.
“It’s awesome. It’s a really, really cool community here,” said Joey Kobushefski with Paranormal Pizza.
The business served mac’n cheese with a little bit of a kick with jalapeno.
“Right now, we have a southwest style mac’n cheese. It’s got our cheese sauce mixed with some adobo in it, elbow noodles,” said Kobushefski.
Taste testers voted on who will win bragging rights this year.
“Everybody’s having a good time and it’s just good fun,” said Kobushefski.