Mac-N-Cheese Bowl - Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York

Tickets for purchase will be available at the event!

All pre-purchased tickets will be available at will call located at Remsen and Newcomb Streets.

Join us for the region’s largest Mac-N-Cheese competition and community food & fund drive.

Read the Times Union Table Hopping article by Steve Barnes

We’re back for our 5th year on Remsen Street! Enjoy several blocks of delicious Mac-N-Cheese from around the Capital Region, along with dozens of vendors, organizations, and entertainment throughout the event presented by timesunion.com/TableHopping.

NEW THIS YEAR!
Family Fun Zone powered by

Saturday, October 17, 2026

11:00 AM-3:00 PM

Remsen Street in Downtown Cohoes

Hosted by

Competing for best Mac-N-Cheese (more to come!)
Anthony’s Italian • Bountiful Bread • Conroy’s Irish Tavern • Daisy Cafe • Fallside Brewery • Market 32 & Allie B’s • Mixed Breed Brewing at Van Patten Golf Club • Nighthawks • Recovery Sports Grill • Regional Food Bank Community Health & Nutrition • The Works Cafe • Tipsy Moose Tap & Tavern • Valente’s Restaurant

Performances by:
Cryin’ Out Loud • Alex Riddell • Hilltown Hags • Playhouse Stage Company at Cohoes Music Hall

Entertainment Stage sponsored by

Meet your 2026 Mac-N-Cheese Bowl Judges!

Our judges choose their own winner to be crowned alongside the People’s Choice winner.

PYX 106 — Quinn & Cantara, PYX106 Morning Show

Harmoniously fusing the work ethic of a circus elephant and the determination of a soldier, Quinn and Cantara have manufactured their show from the ground up with insightful intellect, disturbing reality and the fearlessness it takes to say exactly what people are thinking but afraid to speak. With a hand to the throat and a trail of bodies, Quinn and Cantara forge ahead, spreading the word of the people. Entertaining in a world where entertainment takes on an altogether different and important meaning.

Kristi Gustafson Barlette, Times Union

Kristi Gustafson Barlette has judged the //timesunion.com/TableHopping Mac-n-Cheese Bowl every year, so she knows her way around a cheese-covered fork.

She doesn’t claim to be a food expert. She does claim to be a cheese expert, since cheese is one of her favorite foods — and she has spent years gathering evidence.

Kristi considers “trying new things to eat” a hobby, which makes judging food contests one of the best parts of her job. Her qualifications are simple: curiosity, a willingness to try anything once and strong opinions about food — and most everything else, too.

She takes her assignment — but not herself — seriously.

Tatiana Rodriguez, the creator behind @the.tati.edit, partners with local and national businesses to create authentic review and vlog-style content highlighting the best in food, travel, and lifestyle experiences. Tati’s passion is helping businesses connect with consumers through trusted recommendations that inspire discovery.

Shannon Lee is the Hudson Valley dining critic for the Times Union.

Shannon (1) — Chef Jermaine Wright, 8 Count Kitchen

Chef Jermaine Wright is a Private/Family Chef and Culinary Curator from Southside Jamaica Queens, currently based in Albany and serving NYC, the Greater Capital Region and beyond. Trained under culinary giants like Gordon Ramsay, Robert Irvine, and Marc Forgione, his career includes competing on Hell’s Kitchen Season 22 and Food Network’s All Star Academy, winning Remy Martin’s Circle of Centaurs competition, and hosting as a Culinary Correspondent for Tastemade Japan’s Take Me To Ise. Renowned for engineering story-driven menus that take guests on a taste-traveling journey around the globe, Chef Jermaine combines bright, bold flavors with fresh, local ingredients to create a sophisticated taste of home. His culinary finesse, boundless creativity, and meticulous attention to detail effortlessly elevate any occasion, delivering an unforgettable dining experience and complete peace of mind for his clients and their guests.

33349379-0242-42dd-b661-bbb6b32bda2d — Kasey Meyer, @thechowdown

Kasey Meyer is the creator behind @thechowdown, a food-focused Instagram, Tiktok and recipe blog where she shares approachable, seasonal recipes and her love of cooking with a growing community of fellow food lovers. Her passion for cooking began at a young age and eventually led her to earn an Associate Degree in Culinary Arts and Baking from Schenectady County Community College, followed by a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from New England Culinary Institute. After spending a few years in the restaurant industry, Kasey found a new way to share her love of food through recipe development, food photography, and social media. Through @thechowdown, she especially enjoys connecting with people in the local community, discovering new food and sharing recipes that bring people together.

Dominick Colello, better known online as Dom C, is a food and lifestyle creator based in the Capital Region. What started as recording a silly TikTok with his sisters has turned into a full time career, and more importantly a way to constantly support the community that built it. Through Dom C Media, he spotlights local restaurants, small businesses and the people behind them across Albany, Saratoga, Troy and Schenectady.

Help Fill Our Community’s Bowls While You Fill Yours!

As you head to the festival, we invite you to bring along a non-perishable food donation to help stock local food pantries and support families facing food insecurity right here in our community.

A can of soup, a box of pasta, a jar of peanut butter, or other shelf-stable items may seem small, but together, thousands of small acts of kindness create a tremendous impact. Every donation helps ensure local children, seniors, and working families have access to the nutritious food they need.

Bring a non-perishable food item to the Mac-N-Cheese Bowl and help us turn a day of great food into a day of giving.

See a list of our most needed items.