Although the NOLA Mac n' Cheese Fest won't be returning to Armstrong Park this year, that hasn't stopped it from wanting to share the cheesiest noodles in the city with everyone. In place of a festival this year, NOLA Mac n' Cheese Festival will be presenting "Eat Mac to Give Back," a fundraiser that will benefit the Youth Empowerment Project, in partnership with various restaurants around the city. This organization helps young people connect with resources, mentors, and various opportunities to help them achieve their goals.
"After over a year in a pandemic, youth services and small business are two of the hardest hit sectors. We'd like to make a difference as New Orleans rebuilds!" according to nolamacncheesefest.org.
Starting July 14, a mac n' cheese map featuring the seven participating restaurants in this year's "Eat Mac to Give Back" program will be available for purchase through NOLA T-Shirt of the Month Club. This is no traditional paper map; instead, NOLA Mac n' Cheese Fest's map, designed by Walking Man Studios, will be available on a t-shirt or tote bag. Throughout the month of August, those who don their mac n' cheese swag will get an exciting treat alongside their meals at participating restaurants.
Wear your map shirt at Fat Harry's and get a free side of goat cheese mac n' cheese with any sandwich. At Gonzo's Smokehouse & BBQ, you can get a 8 oz of the smoked brisket mac n' cheese with any purchase. Take your tote into Heard Dat Kitchen or Nola Crawfish King Seafood & Barbecue for a free side of mac n' cheese with any purchase. You'll get 10% off an order of crawfish mac n' cheese at Lula Restaurant Distillery. Visit Oceana Grill with any of your map swag and get 20% off your entire meal. Finally, a small cheesemonger mac n' cheese with an order of a sandwich or salad will be given to you at the St. James Cheese Company.
To purchase map swag, visit nolamacncheesefest.org or nolatshirtclub.com. T-shirts cost $25, totes $15, and limited editions festival hats are $25. Swag pick-up will begin July 23 at Nola T-Shirt of the Month Club's store at 3013 Magazine St.