A Weekend of Cheesy Delights: My Experience at Norfolk's Mac and Cheese Festival

Greetings, my fellow Mac Cheesers! This past weekend, I had the pleasure of diving into a cheesy adventure at the 5th annual Mac and Cheese Festival in the vibrant Waterside District of Norfolk, affectionately known as the Mermaid City. With a backdrop of the Elizabeth River, this bustling area hosts a variety of festivals throughout the year, including the Street Food Festival, Children’s Festival, and Craft Beer and Wine Festival, making it a hub of culinary excitement.

A Sign from the Universe?

As fate would have it, this festival coincided perfectly with my newfound passion for mac and cheese ratings. I stumbled upon the event only two days prior, which felt like a cosmic sign that I was meant to be there. The festival spanned two days, October 12-13, and while I had a prior commitment on the first day, Sunday was wide open and ready for cheesy indulgence.

A Feast for the Senses

With over 40 vendors showcasing their unique takes on mac and cheese, the options were overwhelming (in the best way!). I decided not to focus on specific dishes for my ratings, but rather to evaluate the festival as a whole. It was evident that Sunday’s offerings were a bit scaled back compared to Saturday, likely due to the anticipated crowd sizes.

Among the many vendors, some highlights included:

- **Big Daddy's:** Known for their decadent deep-fried mac and cheese.

- **Kitchenfinity:** Featuring their delicious white cheddar mac and tots. (IG: @kitchenfinity)

- **Solana Street Food:** Offering a Puerto Rican twist with Gouda and white cheddar mac empanadas. (IG: @solanastreefood)

- **J&K Style Grill:** A personal favorite, renowned for their inventive flavors of mac and cheese balls. (IG: @jkstylegrill)

It was a bit disheartening to find that *I Heart Mac and Cheese*, the featured restaurant from my first rating blog, was not present. Given the festival's theme, it felt like a missed opportunity to unite the two worlds of mac and cheese.

The Venue

The Waterside District is an excellent choice for events like this, blending waterfront dining and entertainment seamlessly for both locals and visitors. However, I found the layout somewhat cramped for a festival of this magnitude. Lines from different vendors tended to collide, making navigation tricky, and seating was limited. I ended up venturing inside the Market area just to find a place to sit and enjoy my cheesy bites.

Final Thoughts: A 3.5 MAC Rating

Overall, I would rate my experience at the Mac and Cheese Festival a solid **3.5 MACs**. The variety of vendors and their creative dishes were impressive, but the limited space significantly impacted my enjoyment. Here’s hoping for more elbow room at next year’s festival!

If you attended the festival, I’d love to hear about your favorite mac and cheese dishes! Let’s keep the cheesy conversations going here at Mac and Cheese Rendezvous!

“Cheesy Beginnings: Kicking Off the Rendezvous at I Heart Mac and Cheese”

**I Heart Mac and Cheese: A Cheesy Beginning**

Mac Cheesers, welcome back to the *Mac and Cheese Rendezvous*! As promised, I’m on a mission to explore the best mac 'n cheese dishes in the Hampton Roads area, and what better place to kick things off than at a restaurant dedicated entirely to the art of mac and cheese? Enter *I Heart Mac and Cheese*, a cozy little franchise that just opened its Virginia Beach location about six months ago.

Naturally, I had to check it out.

**First Impressions**  

Walking into *I Heart Mac and Cheese*, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, perfect for a comfort food joint. Their menu is an absolute dream for mac lovers, offering a variety of mac 'n cheese bowls, sandwiches, flatbreads, and sides. But, for my first review, I decided to stick with the basics and ordered the classic mac 'n cheese—a bowl of spiral macaroni noodles covered in their signature cheese sauce, topped with a slice of cheddar cheese, and warmed to perfection in a conveyor oven.

Now, let's get down to business—how does it rate?

**1. Cheesiness**  

The cheese sauce had a rich flavor and a nice, thick consistency. The added slice of cheddar was a thoughtful touch, acting as a binder between the noodles and the sauce. It didn’t overpower, but it definitely delivered on cheesiness.

**2. Creaminess**  

While the sauce was flavorful, it wasn't as creamy as I typically prefer. That said, it complemented the cheesiness well, striking a good balance.

**3. Presentation**  

Visually, the dish was enticing, especially with the heart-shaped bowls—a nod to the restaurant's name. It’s always a win when the presentation matches the brand’s theme!

**4. Consistency**  

I was pleased to find that the cheese sauce was evenly distributed throughout the dish. No disappointing dry spots—just consistent cheesiness with every bite.

**5. Value**  

I opted for a kid’s size bowl (about one cup) along with a drink, which came out to a little over $8. Luckily, they offer a military discount, so I ended up paying just over $7. Not a bad deal, though I do feel the price is a touch high for the portion size.

**Final Verdict**  

So, what's the final score? I’m giving *I Heart Mac and Cheese*'s classic mac 'n cheese 4 out of 5 MACs. It’s got a great flavor, a good mix of cheesy and creamy, and the consistency was on point. While the price could be a bit lower, it’s definitely a place I’d visit again for some cheesy comfort food.

And don’t worry, this isn’t the end of *I Heart Mac and Cheese*’s ratings! Stay tuned as I try out more of their tempting menu items—from loaded mac bowls to those delicious-looking sandwiches. This Rendezvous is just getting started!

**Website:** [iheartmacandcheese.com](http://iheartmacandcheese.com)  

**Instagram:** [@iheartmacandcheesevabeach](https://www.instagram.com/iheartmacandcheesevabeach)