Full plates and full glasses were found all around the Monroeville Convention Center as thousands packed the place for the Wine Shine Mac ‘n Cheese Fest.
WineFest PA, which is run by Jefferson Hills couple Dottie and Bob Miller, presented the event at the end of February. More than 2,000 people participated.
“We were so happy it was something that the community wanted and that we brought to the area,” Dottie Miller said. “They came for the wine. They came for the mac ‘n cheese. It was just a great event. We want you to feel like you’re walking into a party when you walk in. We don’t want people to feel like they’re walking in to a trade show.”
Bobby Fello and Michaela Walker, both from Monroeville, were among the patrons. They tried samples from Wine O’Clock Somewhere and food from Mommalicious.
“We’re having a blast,” Fello said. “We have a case waiting for us to take home from three different places so far.”
Walker said she saw an article about the event in the Times Express and knew they had to come.
“Wine and mac ‘n cheese are two of our favorite things,” she said. “There are a lot of great wineries here with a lot of great variety.”
About a dozen wineries offered samples and specials. Food vendors offered a variety of pasta bowls as well as gourmet fries, desserts, ribs and other options.
DoubleTree by Hilton Chef Shawn King of Irwin was one of several hotel catering department staffers cooking up mac ‘n cheese masterpieces at the festival. Their booth sold out of lobster mac within the first hour.
“It’s good to go and talk to the people, feed them and see their smiling faces,” King said. “Everybody’s having a good time. That’s what we’re here for, to make people happy with food.”
Winery staffers offered tips on how to best compliment their dishes with the right beverage.
Sam Schwaderer of Wine O’Clock Somewhere suggested a red Fredonia wine or a red blend with barbecue chicken mac, and a white Catawba wine with a seafood mac.
She said her group plans to be back at the next festival, and the other vendors have been very friendly.
“It really is more like a community of people as opposed to a competition to sell more or to get more customers,” said Schwaderer. “I think that’s one of the parts that’s really enjoyable about it. This crowd has been so large, and the people have been so pleasant.”
At least 100 wines were in the bottle check-in area at the front of the venue at any given time. It was sectioned off so people didn’t have to lug around their purchases.
“Everybody appreciates it whether you’re the customer or the winery because people can’t carry all that wine,” Dottie Miller said. “People buy cases. They’ll buy a variety pack. You can never carry that around.”
She said they plan to bring the event back to Monroeville some time next year.
More information about convention center activities is available at monroeville conventioncenter.com.
