8-City Macaroni and Cheese recipe Contest Kicks Off in San Francisco, Recipe Submissions Requested

Tillamook Cheese and McCormick and Kuleto's Seafood Restaurant Sponsor Macaroni and Cheese Cook-Off

San Francisco - February 11 – Tillamook Cheese and McCormick & Kuleto’s Seafood Restaurant are now accepting recipe submissions for the 2006 Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Contest. Bay Area residents have the opportunity to submit their unique homemade macaroni and cheese recipes, with 3 finalists to be chosen based on unique use of ingredients, taste and overall creativity, to compete in a final cook-off.

The San Francisco cook-off will take place on March 29 from 6:00 to 8:30 PM at McCormick & Kuleto’s Seafood Restaurant where the 3 finalists will prepare their dishes from scratch. Local celebrity judges and culinary experts will choose the standout cheesy noodle dish. The winner will receive $1,000 in cash, 25 pounds of Tillamook cheese and dinner for 4 at McCormick & Kuleto’s Seafood Restaurant. The winner also will qualify to mix it up (the ingredients, that is) in Portland, Oregon in the grand final cook-off against finalists from Tillamook, OR; Denver, CO; Phoenix, AZ; Dallas, TX; Chicago, IL; Seattle, WA and Pasadena, CA for a chance to win $5,000, endless bragging rights and worldwide distribution of their winning recipe on the contest Web site.

All recipe submissions mailed in for the San Francisco cook-off must be postmarked by Thursday, March 2 or submitted online by midnight PST Monday, March 6. Finalists will be notified by telephone no later than Wednesday, March 15. Entries can be submitted online at www.tillamookcheese.com or mailed to Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Contest at 1100 SW Sixth Avenue, Suite 1425, Portland, OR 97204-1014.

McCormick & Kuleto's is located at 900 North Point Street in Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco. McCormick & Kuleto’s menu is printed twice daily and features their signature “Fresh List” of more than 30 varieties of fresh seafood, in addition to aged steaks, poultry, entrée salads and pasta. For more information, call (415) 929-1730 or visit www.McCormickandKuletos.com

About the Tillamook County Creamery Association
The Tillamook County Creamery Association, formed as a farmer-owned cooperative in 1909, has earned a reputation as one of the nation’s premier brands of cheese. TCCA is a national marketer of naturally aged cheddar and a variety of other cheeses, butter, and an extensive line of premium ice cream, sour cream and yogurt. TCCA is best known for its internationally award-winning Tillamook® cheddar cheese. For more information visit www.tillamookcheese.com