ChowdaFest CT 2014 Recap - #ChowdaFestCT Winners in Bridgeport CT

This Sunday my friend Gayle and I set out for our annual trek to the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport CT to attend the 6th Annual ChowdaFest CT Contest!

A list of the final winners appears at the end of this post.

This year it was better than ever, as they added some new attractions, such as a cheese bar, a beer and wine area, and several chef demonstrations. In honor of the annual event falling on SuperBowl Sunday each year, they even introduced a new mascot:

Meet the amazing Chef Ref!

Meet Chef Ref!
Photos courtesy of Beth Kitchener (Thanks Beth!)

We had a great time and tasted some mighty fine chowders! So many unique flavors and some great takes on the traditionals! Feast your eyes on the pictorial recap that follows...

Here's some of the fun things we saw and sampled! 

Wood-n-Tap
Pictures on the brochure in the upper right look familiar?
Yup! I'm thrilled ChowdaFest used my pictures from last year!

Old Post Tavern (Fairfield)

The Wonderful Volunteers from Sacred Heart University

Fun With Rory's Irish Tavern (Darien)

Bernard's (Ridgefield)

High Tide Gourmet (Madison)

Lenny and Joe's Fish Tail (New Haven, Madison and Westbrook)
Apparently Gayle likes Lobster!!!

The NEW Cracker and Cheese Area

The Restaurant at Rowayton (Rowayton)

Parallel Post at the Trumbull Marriott

The Sacred Heart Volunteers even helped at the Chowda Children's Corner!
I'm not sure who is having more fun!!! Mom and Dad, the kids, or the volunteers!! 

Guvnor's Brewery in Norwalk

The Beer and Wine Corner at ChowdaFestCT

Mansion Clam House (Westport)

The Ginger Man's Sweet Potato Clam Chowder (Norwalk)

Donovan's (Norwalk)

And here's a sampling of my sampling!

And, without further ado, 

here's a list of the ChowdaFest CT 2014 WINNERS!!

Were you at ChowdaFest CT this year?

Do you have a favorite chowder? 

I'd love to hear about it in the comments below.