Long Island Eighth Graders Craft Award-Winning Mac and Cheese Recipe
A group of eleven eighth-grade boys from Southampton Intermediate School on Long Island have proven that culinary excellence knows no age limit. Dubbing themselves the “Mac Island Mariners,” these young chefs created a revolutionary mac and cheese recipe that beat out 260 other entries to win Cornell University’s Mac & Cheese Challenge. Their winning creation—a garlic mac and cheese chicken pot pie featuring sweet corn, Muenster cheese, mozzarella, cheddar, bacon, shredded chicken, and garlic toast breadcrumbs under a pie crust—was so aromatic that school security guards were drawn to their classroom by the irresistible smell wafting down the hallway.
What makes this victory even more remarkable is that the boys entered the competition with minimal cooking experience. When their teacher, Christina Duryea, introduced them to the contest last September, the enthusiastic group immediately jumped at the opportunity. “The next week, we were already working on recipes, and it just kind of all fell into place,” explained team member Cole Collins. The competition required participants to develop their perfect macaroni and cheese recipe and submit it on paper for judges to prepare independently. Without knowing what their competitors were doing, the boys had to rely on their creativity and teamwork to stand out from the crowd.
The road to culinary triumph wasn’t without its challenges. The team experimented with several innovative approaches before landing on their winning recipe. “We actually made buffalo mac and cheese balls,” shared Christopher Glorioso, one of the young chefs. “So we did those, and they’re pretty good—but we thought we could do better.” The boys worked through creative differences like professional chefs, assigning specific responsibilities to each team member as they refined their recipe. When they saw faculty members raving about their creation, they knew they had something special on their hands.
To deepen their understanding of their primary ingredient, Ms. Duryea organized a field trip to nearby Mecox Bay Dairy Farm, where her father works. “We got to really actually understand the agricultural practices,” said team member Charles Holle. “That actually helped us understand a lot more about the recipe.” This hands-on experience gave the boys insights into cheese-making that informed their culinary decisions. They also developed a locally focused marketing campaign with a fishing theme as a tribute to Long Island’s maritime heritage, demonstrating their understanding that great food is about more than just taste—it’s about story and connection too.
After weeks of perfecting their recipe and submitting their entry before the late November deadline, the boys endured an anxious waiting period. The news of their victory came as a welcome surprise after the Christmas break. “It’s not just luck, but it was so surprising when we got back that victory letter,” said student Read Wilutis. The win earned the team a $300 prize for creative academic endeavors, but more importantly, it validated their collaborative efforts and culinary innovation. Ms. Duryea expressed particular pride in how the students learned to work together, noting that their teamwork produced a dish superior to hundreds of other entries from across New York State.
The future looks bright for these young culinary stars. Ms. Duryea mentioned there’s an upcoming ice cream challenge that might be the Mac Island Mariners’ next conquest, though she hadn’t yet shared this opportunity with the team. Regardless of whether they take on this new challenge, these eighth graders have already accomplished something remarkable: they’ve proven that innovation, collaboration, and passion can lead to success at any age. Their garlic mac and cheese chicken pot pie—definitely “NOT just like mom used to make,” as they proudly declare—stands as testimony to the creative potential of young minds when given the opportunity to experiment, learn, and work together toward a common goal.
