South Jersey…If you have a yearning for the kind of cooking, flavors and tastes you remember from your mother’s kitchen, some local South Jersey chefs have good news for you: they are recreating nearly a week long event called “Homestyle Classics” which will run from January 25 through January 28th at each of their restaurants.

Sponsored by South Jersey Culinary Events (SJCE) the special, four course event is $30.00/person and features “Mom’s cooking with a gourmet touch,” says Chef Alex Capasso of Blackbird restaurant. Capasso, whose trademark cuisine has won numerous awards and who is more accustomed to making meringues than meatloaf, is an eager participant. He explains, “The beauty of this is that we all have favorite comfort foods that we remember as kids and as chefs we’re gone on to add our own creative unique touches to them.”

The event kicks off the week before with a competition in which local chefs create their own versions of that perennial favorite, macaroni and cheese. The “Mighty Mac Battle of the Chefs” will take place at Tortilla Press Cantina, 7716 Maple Avenue in Pennsauken on Monday, January 18th at 6:30pm. The price is $10.00/adult and $4.00/children under 12 and while representatives from the Food Bank of South Jersey will judge the best and the creamiest, the public will get a voice as well. “We’re just going to have a lot of fun with this,” says Chef Joe Palombo of Mirabella Café. “We’ll have categories of Best All Round mac and cheese, Creamiest, Most like Mom’s and Most Exotic.” A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit the Food Bank of South Jersey. “We’re here to raise money and to educate,” explains Palombo. “Macaroni and cheese, when made the right way, is extremely nutritious and full of protein. We want to show the public how economical it can be to make a great dish.”

Click on flyer to see complete list of participating restaurants. Click on each restaurant to visit their website.

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For menu details call the restaurant or check their website:

The Tortilla Press
701-703 Haddon Avenue
Collingswood, NJ 08108
856-869-3345
www.thetortillapress.com
Chef Mark Smith

Tortilla Press Cantina
716 Maple Avenue
Pennsauken, NJ 08109
856-356-2050
www.tortillapresscantina.com
Chef Mark Smith

Blackbird Dining Establishment
619 Collings Avenue
Collingswood, NJ 08107
856-854-3444
www.blackbirdnj.com
Chef Alex Capasso

blueplate restaurant
47 South Main Street
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062
856-478-2112
www.blueplatenj.com
Chef James Malaby

Mirabella Café
210 Barclay Farms Shopping Center
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
856-354-1888
www.mirabellacafe.com
Chef Joe Palombo

Andreotti’s Viennese Café
1442 Rte 70 East
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
856-795-2233
www.andreottis.com
Chef Richard Marsh