Magic Mac

Tony Quintana isn't messing around with traditional mac and cheese.

When the chef throws down Saturday at an Albuquerque festival dedicated to the pasta and dairy combo, he's kicking it up a notch.

A dish that he describes as "Old Mexico meets an American Classic" with mouthwatering promises of lamb and mint mole with three different cheeses is his contender in the contest that raises money for the New Mexico Cancer Center Foundation, a nonprofit that helps offset nonmedical costs for patients and their families.

Quintana's typical day as chef at the Kingston Residence means serving three meals for up to 500 elderly residents and their guests, so he's not daunted by cooking for up to 2,000 festival attendees, who get to taste 1-ounce creations from dozens of restaurants.

The festival that's put on with the help of a California marketing firm has already worked as a charity fundraiser in other communities, and Quintana researched the dishes from the recent Denver contest when he decided what to make.

Mole is a crowdpleaser at the facility he's worked in for 16 years.

"It's one way to bring in the chiles and keep them, how can I say, at a safe level for people to eat," he tells SFR while strolling the aisles at Sam's Club for ladles and other supplies for the event.

He's excited to see how people react to the dish.

"It's amazing what we can do as chefs. A lot of restaurants, the menu is the same, and it's nice that we get out of the box and create our magic," he says. "This is one place where we can all try and create, and it makes it into a really, really nice event with a lot of competition."

Participating chefs have access to a portion of pounds and pounds of cheese donated for the event by Yancey's Fancy.

In addition to the Kingston dish, Santa Fe is also represented at the event by chef Arnold Arvizo from Garbo's at the Montecito. Albuquerque participants include Soul and Vine, Turtle Mountain Brewing Co. and Bravo! Cucina Italiana.

Guests who buy $45 tickets for the event also get to taste local wine and beer in 1-ounce portions. 

Santa Fe Reporter