ChowdaFest Winners and Recap - October 2014

Donovan’s, Gray Goose, Soup Thyme, and The Spread Take Top Honors at Chowdafest

Thousands of chowder loving foodies from all over Connecticut converged at Norwalk’s Calf Pasture Beach to determine the state’s best chowder, soup and bisque at Chowdafest.

We all grabbed a spoon, a pencil and a ballot and went off to sample 30 different entries.

Each entry was rated on a scale of 7 to 10 to determine the winners of four different categories. The restaurant with the best overall average in their category are declared champions.

Voters chose Donovan’s of South Norwalk for their New England clam chowder, winning for the third consecutive year. Norwalk restaurants took all top three awards with O’Neill’s coming in second narrowly missing first and new comer Sparks Sports Grill taking third place.

Gray Goose of Fairfield took first place in their first Chowdafest competition winning the Traditional Chowder category for Manhattan and Rhode Island clam chowders only. They defeated  runner-up Liquid Lunch of Shelton & Milford who finished second last year with their Manhattan clam chowder. Third place was Dunville’s of Westport who was the categories previous champion also with a Manhattan entry. Westfair Fish & Chips of Westport finished with the top rated Rhode Island clam chowder.

The very popular Creative Chowder category was exceptionally close as eight restaurants showcased their culinary skills. The Spread from South Norwalk took top honors for their chorizo and shrimp chowder which was also the highest rated entry for the entire event. Taking second was Norwalk’s Brewhouse restaurant who won this category previously. Third place was Liquid Lunch with their Great Pumpkin & Lobster Bisque. Norwalk’s Simply Delicious missed the podium by 0.01 of a point for their lobster & corn chowder.

Newcomer Soup Thyme of Monroe won the Soup & Bisque category with their chicken pot pie soup. “I’m so glad we finally entered” said Ron Lee, owner. “We’ve been invited for several years and I’m thrilled we could finally compete”. Tikkaway from New Haven came in second with their chicken cilantro bisque. Third place finisher was Local Kitchen and Beer Bar of Fairfield & Norwalk with their Thanksgiving harvest bisque. LobsterCraft of Darien had the highest rated lobster bisque.

Attendees also got to sample craft beer, wine & crackers, farm made ice cream and even birthday cake from presenting sponsor Stop & Shop who was celebrating their 100th anniversary. Tim Curry’s Motown band entertained the crowd. Kids decorated chef hats and got to meet “Goldie” the goldfish from Pepperidge Farm.

Chowdafest, presented by Stop & Shop, benefits Community Plates in an ongoing effort to eliminate hunger.

For more pictures of the event, visit the Home Place facebook page at http://bit.ly/CF2014pix

and while you're there, don't forget to "like" us!

For additional information about Chowdafest, please visit www.chowdafest.org or email event chairperson, Jim Keenan at chowdafest@gmail.com

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.

ChowdaFest 2014 - Webster Bank Arena Bridgeport CT

UPDATE: Read my recap of this event HERE

The ChowdaFest date and line up is announced!

Save the date! 
February 2, 2014
11am-3pm

This incredible fundraiser benefits the CT Food Bank. 

Get your tickets early to avoid box office lines. 
Tickets will be on-sale in January at Stop & Shop and Webster Bank locations.   

WHEN:

February 2, 2014
11am - 3pm

WHERE:

Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard

600 Main Street - Bridgeport CT

Conveniently off exit 27 off I-95

Be green and car pool - parking just $5

TICKETS:

Adults are $12

Children 6-12 are just $5, five years or younger FREE

Tickets available at the Webster Bank Arena Box Office.
Advance tickets can be purchased at Stop & Shop and Webster Bank locations in January 2014.
 SAVE $2 on each adult ticket when purchased at advance at any New Haven or Fairfield County Stop & Shop through January staring Jan. 4. Kids receive FREE chef hats, stickers and more while supplies last.

There will be 28 chowda-licious restaurants participating in the 6th annual competition. 

ChowdaFest will be bringing you an unbelievable line up of chefs and restaurants! There will be lots of other cool stuff too like the "Ciao"dafest Italian tasting section and the new Cracker & Cheese Corner.  

There will also be a beverage center to sample craft beer, wine, coffee & hot chocolate too.  

 Congratulations to the following restaurants that earned their spot into this year's competition:  

• Bernard's (Ridgefiled)
• Bistro 7 (Wilton)
• Brennan's (Norwalk)
• Brewhouse (Norwalk) 
• Close Harbour Seafood (Plantsville)
• Crab Shell (Stamford) 
• Donovan's (Norwalk) 
• Dunville's (Westport)
• Ginger Man (Norwalk) 
• Go Fish (Mystic)
• Guvnor's Brewery (Norwalk)
• High Tide Gourmet (Madison)
• Indigo by the Water (Milford)
• Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale (New Haven, Madison & Westbrook) 
• Liquid Lunch (Shelton & Milford) 
• Mansion Clam House (Westport) 
• Old Post Tavern (Fairfield) 
• Parallel Post (Trumbull) 
• Post 154 (Westport)
• Rory's (Darien) 
• Rowayton Seafood (Rowayton) 
• Southport Brewing Co. (Southport, Branford, Stamford and Milford) 
• Super Duper Weenie (Fairfield) 
• Tavern on Main (Westport) 
• The Spread (Norwalk) 
• Tikkaway (New Haven)

Bring your friends and your appetite!

Non-perishable food items will be collected for donation to the CT Food Bank.

Anyone bringing a donated item will be entered into a raffle for a 
$200 Stop and Shop gift certificate!

Also new this year?
A new MASCOT!
Meet:
CHEF-REF!

Meet Chef Ref in advance at these select dates and locations
Mascot Schedule:

•Sat. Jan. 11 – FIAT of Fairfield County in Stamford (12:00-1:30)

•Sat. Jan. 11 – Sound Tiger game at the Webster Bank Arena (7:00)

•Sun. Jan. 12 – Sound Tiger game at Webster Bank Arena (3:00)

•Fri. Jan. 17 – Stop & Shop in Westport (3:30 - 5:30)

•Sat. Jan. 18 – Stop & Shop in Stamford (Bedford St. 12:00 - 1:30)

•Sat. Jan. 18 – Stop & Shop in Darien (Noroton Heights 2:30 – 4:00)

•Sun. Jan 19 – Stop & Shop in Norwalk (Main Ave. 11:30 – 1:00)

•Sun. Jan 19 – Stop & Shop in Norwalk (CT Ave. 1:30 – 2:30)

•Sun. Jan 19 – Sound Tiger game at the Webster Bank Arena (3:00)

•Fri. Jan. 24 – Stop & Shop in Bridgeport (3:30 – 5:30)

•Sat. Jan. 25 – Stop & Shop in Milford (12:00 – 1:30)

•Sat. Jan. 25 – Stop & Shop in Stratford (2:30 – 4:00)

•Fri. Jan. 31 – Stop & Shop in Shelton (3:30 – 5:30)

•Sat. Feb. 1 – Stop & Shop in Trumbull (11:30 – 1:00)

•Sat. Feb. 1 – Stop & Shop in Monroe (1:30 – 2:30)

•Sat. Feb. 1 – Sound Tiger game at Webster Bank Arena (3:00)

•Sun. Feb. 2 – Chowdafest (11:00 – 3:00)

Here's your chance to WIN a family-pak of tickets!

Chowdafest, presented by Stop & Shop, will conduct live, on-air chowder, soup & bisque tastings on Star 99.9 every “SOUPer” Friday  in January on the Big Jim and Anna morning program starting on Jan. 10th.

“We had so much fun last year sampling some of chowder and soup that we thought we would super-size it and do a different tasting each Friday” said Anna Zapp, on-air personality for Star 99.9.

Each Friday will feature the eight entries in one of the four different competition categories.  The categories are New England clam chowder, Traditional Chowder which is exclusive to Manhattan (red) and Rhode Island (clear), Creative Chowders and Soup/Bisque.

“A chowdah competition that takes place on the Super Bowl, does it get any better?” said “Big Jim” Murray, former sports talk host from both Atlanta and Boston, now Anna Zappa’s morning broadcast partner.  

“It will be great to see how Jim and Anna’s favorites stack up to the thousands of votes we get at our pre-Super Bowl event on Feb. 2nd at the Webster Bank Arena” said Jim Keenan, Chowdafest Chairman.   

And here's where the fun comes in!!! A family pack of Chowdafest tickets will be given away on Star 99.9 during each Souper Friday as well as over the weekends.Make sure you listen to Star 99.9 radio!

For additional information about Chowdafest, please visit www.chowdafest.org or email event director Jim Keenan at chowdafest@optonline.net.