Ann Jones of Littleton, Colo., won $6,000 cash, 25 pounds of Tillamook cheese and “The Big Cheese” title last week at the 5th Annual Tillamook Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Contest Grand Finale Cook-off at Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub in Portland, Ore. Jones’ “Rustic Fried Sage & Chicken Apple Sausage Mac-n-Cheese with Autumn Chutney” dish more than satisfied the palates of the judges at the cook-off against five other semi-finalists from across the country.

Jones’ dish also satiated event attendees palates during “People’s Choice” voting, back by popular demand from last year’s cook-off. Event attendees voted for their favorite macaroni and cheese dish created by the six semi-finalists. The “People’s Choice” win resulted in $1,000 cash for Jones in addition to her $5,000 cash grand prize at the cook-off.

“My experience in Portland was amazing and I want to thank the folks at Tillamook and Kells for their hospitality and such a terrific experience; it was top notch. I feel so honored to have been invited to the Tillamook cook-off and to be able to cook with such a great group of ladies,” said Jones.

Keegan Gerhard, host of The Food Network’s "Food Network Challenge," emceed this year’s competition. Semi-finalists prepared their dishes from scratch in front of an audience of nearly 500 people and a panel of eleven culinary experts, local celebrities and food writers.

The semi-finalists and a guest were treated to an all-expenses-paid trip to compete in the contest. The day prior to the cook-off, finalists and their guests were given a behind-the-scenes tour of the Tillamook Cheese Factory and a private dinner compliments of Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub.

To view the winning recipes, final cook-off results, event photos or to learn more about our contest partners, Widmer Brothers Brewing and Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub, please visit http://www.macaroniandcheeseandcheese.com/contest.