Instagram story viewer> @iambenjiblanco> Tagged

Ben Williams

@iambenjiblanco

2.7K

followers

7627

following

Connector. Family Guy. Chef. Musician. Human.

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

PEOPLE'S CHOICE!! 🏆🧀

So proud of our Connect Center youth at the Mac-N-Cheese Bowl!

Huge thank you to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY for hosting 16 years of this amazing event.

Chef Todd, thank you for leading these kids. You're the real MVP.

Katharine, the Faces of the Capital Region mural was everything.

Amanda, your face painting was beautiful.

Love Albany, thank you for the giant games!

And to every volunteer, youth and grown: we did THAT. ❤️
#ConnectCenter #MacNCheeseBowl #Cohoes

50

4

WOW! What a day! 🧀🏆🎉

We’re still taking it all in after an incredible day at the 16th Annual Mac-N-Cheese Bowl!

And the biggest news? WE WON PEOPLE’S CHOICE! 🏆👏

A HUGE congratulations to Chef Todd and our Easy Eats students, whose hard work, creativity, and teamwork earned them this exciting recognition! We couldn’t be prouder of what they accomplished.

Between serving up award-winning mac and cheese, seeing families enjoy our Family Fun Zone, and connecting with so many wonderful people throughout the day, there was so much to celebrate!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, enjoyed our food, voted for our team, and spent time with us. And a special thank you to the Regional Food Bank for another fantastic event that brings our community together.

What a day for our students and the entire Connect Center community! 💙

#connectcenterforyouth #macncheesebowl #cohoesny #capitalregionny #peopleschoice

33

1

There’s still time to volunteer! 🧀💙

Join the Connect Center for Youth this Saturday, October 17, at the 16th Annual Mac-N-Cheese Bowl in Downtown Cohoes!

We’re looking for volunteers ages 18+ to help with our Family Fun Zone, from greeting families and running games to assisting with art activities and more.

📍 Remsen Street, Downtown Cohoes

🕙 Two shifts available:
10:00 AM–1:00 PM
12:45 PM–3:30 PM

No experience needed! Come spend part of your Saturday with us and help make this a great day for local families.

🔗 Sign up through the link in our bio!

And don’t forget to stop by and support Chef Todd and our Easy Eats students in the Mac-N-Cheese competition!

#connectcenterforyouth #cohoesny #capitalregionny #volunteeropportunities #macncheesebowl

8

1

A Love Letter to NYC 🗽💌 🍴🥂 #TheChefsDen

📖 The Story:

The Chef’s Den: #NYC Edition — “Cultural Crossroads: A Love Letter to NYC” rewrote the story of the city’s iconic street eats and corner-store classics, transforming nostalgia into an elevated hands-on multi-course dining experience.

🎥: @filmersendzik

📍: @thehonchoclub

⚡️: Every guest in the room

🥂: Best team on the planet

#8CountKitchen #ChefJermaineWright

451

54

Connect After School is back and starting September 22! 🎉

Students in grades 6–12 can choose from six FREE, hands-on programs in technology, music, cooking, engineering, gaming, and AI.

There’s something for every student to explore, create, and get excited about this fall.

Registration is now open and space is limited. Visit the link in our bio to explore all six programs and sign up, or scan the QR code on the flyer.

📍 49 Johnston Ave., Cohoes, NY

#connectafterschool #cohoesny #capitalregionny #afterschoolprograms #freeafterschoolprogram

12

0

We’re getting ready to reopen! 🥫💙

The Connect Center Food Pantry reopens Tuesday, September 22, with new weekly hours:

Tuesday | 10 AM–2 PM
Wednesday | 5:30–7:30 PM
Thursday | 10 AM–2 PM

📍 49 Johnston Ave., Cohoes

We’re excited to welcome our community back and continue providing food access to local families. Save the new hours + share this with someone who may need them.

#connectcenter #cohoesny #foodpantry #capitalregionny #communityresources

12

0

We know you’ve been waiting 👀 and we’ve had some great things in the works.

This fall, the Connect Center is bringing back familiar programs, reopening our pantry, and creating even more ways for Cohoes youth and families to connect with the resources they need. 💛

🎒 Backpack Program — September 18
🥫 Connect Pantry — September 22
🚀 Connect After School — September 22
🍎 Student Pantry — Coming Soon

September is going to be a BIG month at the Connect Center, and we’re excited to finally start sharing what’s ahead.

Stay tuned for more details & registration!

#connectcenter #cohoesny #capitalregionny #youthprograms #communityresources

12

0

What a way to get ready for a new school year! 🎒💙

Today, 73 backpacks filled with school supplies made their way into the hands of local students and families. It was wonderful seeing families come through, choose what they needed, and leave a little more prepared for the first day of school.

A huge thank you to our community for showing up so quickly when we asked for support, and to In Our Own Voices, CARES NY, and the Center for Internet Security for helping make today possible.

Here’s to a great school year, Cohoes! 📚✏️

#cohoesny #connectcenterforyouth #backtoschool #capitalregionny #communitysupport

20

0

Tomorrow is the day! 🎒

If your family needs school supplies, stop by the Connect Center tomorrow for our Back-to-School Supply Distribution. We have 50 pre-filled backpacks available first come, first served.

And to our community,thank you. We asked for your help, and in just a few days, nearly everything on our wish list was purchased. 💙

📅 Thursday, September 3 | 10 AM–1 PM
📍 49 Johnston Ave., Cohoes

Know a family who could use this? Please share this with them!

#cohoesny #capitalregionny #backtoschool2026 #schoolsupplies #connectcenterforyouth

8

0

🎨🍽️ Palette to Palate: A Culinary Masterpiece!

A massive, heartfelt thank you to Chef Ben for taking us on an unforgettable multi-sensory journey last evening at Mosaic Village! ✨

Chef Ben completely blew us away by translating the core themes of our In Good Taste Summer Showcase...nostalgia, culture, memory, and connection, directly onto our plates. Savoring a curated tasting menu while diving into a guided discussion on how flavor intersects with visual art was pure magic 🎨🥂.

www.choosecohoesforart.org
55 Sargent St Cohoes NY

#palettetopalate #518 #nonprofit #art #capitalregionny

55

4

45

5

We are pairing fine art with fine dining for the ultimate sensory experience right here in Cohoes!

Choose Cohoes for Art presents Palette to Palate with Chef Ben! An exclusive, interactive culinary evening where every bite tells a story. Chef Ben has curated a spectacular a tasting menu where each dish directly corresponds to the incredible local artwork on display in our "In Good Taste" exhibition.

If you are a foodie, an art lover, or just looking for the perfect, unique date night in the 518, this is the one event you cannot miss this season. ✨

THE DETAILS You Need To Know:
🗓 DATE: Saturday, August 22, 2026
⏰ TIME: 3-6pm
📍 LOCATION: 55 Sargent St, Cohoes, NY 12047
🎟 TICKETS: Limited seating available to keep this intimate experience exclusive.

🚨 HOW TO JOIN:
Seats are filling up fast and registration is required. Head directly to the link in our bio to grab your tickets before they sell out! 📲

#518food #capitalregion #518 #thingstodo

37

0