Winner of housemade macand-cheese contest named

Sherwood Brewery emerges victorious

A Shelby Township brewpub has emerged as the winner of the best macaroni-and-cheese competition organized by the Macomb County Planning and Economic Development.

Sherwood Brewery Company was selected in bracket-style voting by the public in Mac Madness: Best Mac and the Mac contest. The initiative sought to highlight housemade macaroni and cheese made at locally owned and operated restaurants.

The pub’s winning baked mac ’n’ cheese features cavatappi noodles tossed in a four-cheese blend and baked for $11.99 (or add shrimp for $4.99), according to owners Ray and Lisa Sherwood.

“This contest is a perfect example of how hard our regulars rally for our product, our employees and their home away from home,” Lisa Sherwood said in a news release. “Macomb County government has provided a variety of support this past year to local businesses, and we couldn’t be more appreciative.”

Sixteen area establishments took part in the contest.

Vicky Rowinski, director of the county planning department, said the contest ran in the same time frame that college basketball teams competed in the March Madness NCAA tournament.

“Our goal from the outset of this initiative was to highlight and support our great Macomb County restaurants. So we hope that people who either voted or simply saw the contest were inspired to get out and try some of the best mac and cheese dishes in Macomb County,” she said in the release.

Sherwood Brewery bills itself as a place featuring “good times, great food and obnoxiously unpretentious beers.”

“In addition to from scratch food and beverages, Sherwood Brewing Company prides itself on community interaction and support,” Lisa Sherwood said.

As the winner of the Best Mac in the Mac contest, Sherwood Brewing Company will receive:

• A $2,500 grant from Macomb County

• One week of free advertising on a digital billboard, donated by 5 Star Outdoor

• The Mac Madness: Best Mac in the Mac plaque

• Bragging rights for the next year

Grants were awarded to the including:

• A $1,000 grant for the second place restaurant Simple Palate, 27380 Van Dyke Avenue in Warren.

• A $500 grant for third place, Jayell Smoke House, 221 N Bailey Street in Romeo.

• A $500 grant for fourth place, Bistro Orleans, 11528 E. 5 Mile Road in Sterling Heights.

Sherwood Brewery is at 45689 Hayes Road, between Hall Road and 21 Mile Road, in Shelby Township.

Customers may have to wait a bit to try the winning dish. According to its website, the brewery is temporarily currently closed after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.

The website says all employees were tested and quarantined even though exposure was limited. The worker was not in contact with the public. also be runnersup,