11th Annual ChowdaFest 2018 Coming on September 30, 2018

You Can Be a Judge!

Determine the Best Chowder, 

Soup & Bisque in New England

at ChowdaFest! 

Once September rolls around, you know it's time for CHOWDAFEST!

Tickets are now on sale for the 11th Annual Chowdafest competition presented by Stop & Shop.  

This year's competition will be held at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport Connecticut on Sunday Sept. 30, 2018 from 11am – 3pm.  

“Come early and definitely come hungry” can often be heard from Jim Keenan, executive director of the event.   

Each year, a record breaking crowd attends to determine which restaurants have the best chowder, soup & bisque in New England.  

Chowdafest features up to 40 award winning restaurants in five different categories: Best New England clam chowder, Best Traditional clam chowder (reserved for Manhattan, Rhode Island and Shoreline clam chowders only), Best Creative Chowder, Best Soup & Bisque and Best Vegetarian entry (can be a chowder, soup or bisque).   

Keenan says the categories are necessary as you can't compare a New England clam chowder to lobster bisque to chicken noodle soup. 

Yankee Magazine has named Chowdafest as one of the “top events of the season” for the past two years and also named it just one of eight “not to be missed events in 2018”.  

Adults and kids alike are an official judge, enjoying unlimited sampling and rating everything on a scale from 7 to 10.5.  The highest average rating in each category is declared champion.  

Unlike many food competitions with a selected panel of judges determines the winners, Chowdafest prides itself on being a true people's choice event as well as being a “true value”, said Keenan.  “Where else can you enjoy unlimited sampling, plus our incredible Italian and Mexican themed sections, free beverages and a sweet treats section, all for just 20 clams?” Kids ages 6-12 are just $5 and parking is free and plentiful. 

Last year, Chowdafest set an attendance record for the 10th straight year.   Attendees literally traveled from all over the country to Connecticut, the chowder capital of New England, to be an official judge.  “We've grown from just a few hundred people when we first started to tens of thousands, even selling out hotels” said Keenan.  The event even features a “Stay & Slurp” hotel and ticket deal which can be found on their website. 

“It's great to see people come back year after year and bring more friends with them to share the experience” Keenan said.  More people also means more money will be raised in the fight against food insecurity.  Last year, Chowdafest funded over a half million meals for the hungry through Food Rescue US resulting in over 2 million meals since the competitions inception.   

Each year, Chowdafest strives to increase the level of competition between restaurants, inviting only those they feel can win the competition.  More than half the restaurants featured this year are new to the event.  

“One of the best compliments we get each year is hearing our restaurants tell us that when someone has won at Chowdafest, they have truly earned it because the level of culinary talent showcased is so high” said Keenan.  “The attendees notice too as they often mention how the restaurant collection was even better than the year before”.  Keenan feels that the 2018 restaurant lineup is arguably the best yet will also feature chowders that have never been entered including a “shoreline” and lobster chowder. 

Keenan expects other records to fall as two defending category champions are vying for an unprecedented fourth in a row title.  Another first includes an accomplished chef entered in all five categories.  Each year, Chowdafest invites a Manhattan based restaurant to defend it's namesake chowder.  This year, Chowdafest extended an invitation to executive chef Bruce Rogers of the infamoud NY based Hale & Hearty Soups restaurants.  “Bruce makes a mean Manhattan clam chowder but being both the consumate competitor and one hell of a soup maven, he asked to enter all five categories” noted Keenan.  “With a Hale & Hearty location now in Boston, it made Hale & Hearty's eligible to compete in this New England event.  Just making the attempt is worth an award but Bruce's entries have a real shot of winning more than one category”.  Keenan says no restaurant has ever attempted or been qualified for more than two categories in the same year and no one has won more than one category in doing so.  

Get your tickets NOW at http://www.chowdafest.org/tickets

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

Chowdafest, presented by Stop & Shop, is sponsored by: BlumShapiro, Cabot Creamery, Carla's Pasta, Chica de Gallo, City Carting, Copp's Island Oysters, Dole Fresh Vegetables, Even Hotels, HamletHub, Harney & Sons Tea, Ken's Foods, Lowe's, Lucy's, Michele's Pies, MINI of Fairfield County, New England Coffee, Nounos Creamery, Ocean Spray, Peapod by Stop & Shop, People's United Bank, Polar Beverages, Rose Sister Chips, The Farmers Cow, Tortilleria Mi Nina, WEBE 108

ChowdaFest 2016 Results

ChowdaFest 2016 Results are in!

Congratulations to everyone who participated - each and every chowder was fabulous!

The votes have been tabulated - and there can be only three winners in each category.  Here they are:

ChowdaFest CT Best New England Clam Chowder

The best of the traditional New England Chowders!

1. First Place to Pike Place Chowder who successfully defended their title as best New England clam chowder.
2. Finishing second was 250 Market from Portsmouth NH
3. Take Five Cookery in third.

ChowdaFest CT Best Creative Chowder

Who used the most creative ingredients!

1. First Place goes to  Our House Bistro from Winooski VT who also defended their 2015 title for best creative chowder. 
2. Newcomers Gaffneys, champions from Saratoga Springs NY finished in a strong second place.
3. Smithsonian Cafe and Chowder House from Massachusetts finished third preventing any CT restaurant from the podium in this category.

ChowdaFest CT Best Traditional Chowder

CT restaurants took all three top spots in the Traditional category!

1. First Place goes to The Clam Castle of Madison taking the top spot with their Rhode Island clam chowder. 
2. Defending champ, Dunvilles Restaurant was the second runner up their Manhattan clam chowder
3. A third place TIE between Chef's Table of Fairfield with their Rhode Island clam chowder and Parallel Post with their Gluten Free Manhattan Clam Chowder!

ChowdaFest CT Soup and Bisque Category

CT also took all top spots in the soup and bisque category.

1. First Place goes to Crab Shell Restaurant of Stamford who after a two year hiatus, secured their place in Chowdafest lore by winning with their lobster bisque! 
2. Old Post Tavern had their best finish ever, finishing 2nd with their truffle mushroom bisque. 
3. Sam's American Bistro rounded out the top three with a spiced chocolate bisque!

Special thanks to all the volunteers who make this event a success! Starting with the big ChowdaHead himself, Jim Keenan ...

Artist Wendy Marciano who designed this year's award plaques, 

... the many volunteers who turn out, and the student organizations from Fairfield University and Sacred Heart University!

This event wouldn't be possible without each and everyone of them!

And a huge thank you 

to the many sponsors of ChowdaFest Connecticut!

For more pictures of the event 
visit the Home Place facebook page HERE

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

ChowdaFest Connecticut moves to Sherwood Island for October 11 2015 Cook-Off

New location! Same rules! You be the judge! ChowdaFest CT!

Chowdafest, presented by Stop & Shop, officially announces their 2015 competition will be held Sunday October 11th at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport CT.

EVENT DETAILS:

Sunday October 11, 2015     11AM - 3PM
Sherwood Island State Park - Westport, CT
Conveniently off exit #18 off I-95

Adults $15
Kids (6-12) $5
and FREE Parking!

The convenience of the park with its own highway exit and three lanes both in and out of the park was a major factor in the relocation decision from Norwalk where Chowdafest was held last fall.

UPDATED: List of Participants and their chowdahs!

* Curried Crab & Lemongrass  Chowder – The Chelsea (Fairfield, CT)
* Sweet Potato Clam Chowder – Cask Republic (New Haven, Norwalk, Stamford, CT)
* Surf & Turf Chowder – Octagon Steakhouse (Mystic CT)
* Creamy Fennel Chowder – ON20 (Hartford, CT)
* Fried Seafood & Sweet Potato Chowder – Our House Bistro (Winooski VT)
* Sweet Corn & Pepper Clam Chowder – Parallel Post (Trumbull, CT)
* Seafood Chowder – Ri Ra Irish Pub (Portsmouth, NH, Portland ME)
* Corn & Mussel Chowder – Southport Brewing Co. (Southport, Milford, CT)
* Seafood Chowder – Smithsonian Chowder House (North Hampton, MA)
* Shrimp & Chorizo Chowder - The Spread (South Norwalk, CT)

The soup and bisque category will also whet appetites and includes:

* Cowboy Brisket Soup – Bobby Q's (Westport, CT)
* Chicken Tortilla Soup – Geronimo (Fairfield, New Haven, CT)
* Chicken Marsala Soup – Liquid Lunch (Milford, Shelton CT)
* Thanksgiving Day Bisque – Local Kitchen & Beer Bar (Fairfield, Norwalk, CT)
* Lobster Bisque – Old Post Tavern (Fairfeld, CT)
* Minestrone Puree – Osteria Romana (Norwalk, CT)
* Golden Corn Bisque – Post 154 (Westport, CT)
* Roasted Banana Pepper and White Bean Bisque – Sam's American Bistro (Stamford, CT)
* Creole Clam Bisque – Simply Delicious (Norwalk, CT)
* Seafood Cilantro Bisque – Tikkaway (New Haven, CT)

“We've become a true destination event attracting thousands of food lovers from all over New England including bus tours so making it easy to get to and from Chowdafest was a priority” said Jim Keenan, event director.  “We're excited showcase Connecticut's oldest and finest state park.  I'd like to thank the park authority along with the Friends of Sherwood Island, a non-profit association dedicated to preserving and improving Sherwood Island, in helping secure the park for this marquee event.”

This year's Chowdafest competition will feature restaurants from every New England state, twelve states in total.  The Chowdafest invite committee continually attends local and regional chowder competitions, stays atop of restaurant reviews plus visits restaurants all year long to find the best competition.  “When you accept an invitation to compete in Chowdafest, you know you're going up against some incredible culinary talent which is important if you're to be called best chowder, soup or bisque in New England” Keenan added.

The competition level has never been higher as it now includes America's #1 Chowder.  According to DishTip.com, Pike Place Chowder from Seattle is generally acknowledged as America's #1 chowder as no restaurant competes more on a national level and wins so many awards as they do.  “We started winning city-wide competitions, then state-wide competitions and finally competitions up & down the west coast but everyone said that's nice but can we beat anyone from New England?” said Larry Mellum, founder and owner. “That made us wonder whether we could.  We entered the Great Chowder Cook-Off in Newport RI and won that three times, even getting enshrined into their hall of fame.  Now the question is can we win at Chowdafest?  This looks to be a very competitive field. We honored to be included.” said Mellum

Pike's competition in the New England clam chowder category includes Donovan's of Norwalk CT who is defending their title for the fourth straight event, Dunville's of Westport CT who is entering this category for the first time having won the Traditional category, rookie Little Barn of Westport, the infamous Luke's Lobster of NYC, O'Neil's of Norwalk CT who placed 2nd last year, first timer Olio on Hope from Stamford CT, the popular Rory's of Darien CT and local favorite The Restaurant at Rowyaton Seafood plus new comer Shell & Bones of New Haven.

Chowdafest has a separate category reserved just for Manhattan (red) and Rhode Island (clear) chowders.  “The competition in this category has gotten personal” said Keenan.  The category includes restaurants from Rhode Island and Manhattan defending the honor of their namesake chowders.  “No one makes a better Rhode Island chowder than someone from Rhode Island” said Perry Raso of Matunuck Oyster Bar in South Kingston RI who are no stranger to winning chowder competitions. Rounding out the Rhode Island chowder competition includes shoreline favorite Bill's Seafood of Westbrook CT, the popular Finn's Harborside from Warrick RI, new comer Chefs' Table of Fairfield CT and local favorite Uberti's in Stratford CT.

The Manhattan side of this category gets even more competitive. It includes The Soup Spot of West 31st Street, NY defending Manhattan's honor against an award winning list that includes Vermont's Reservoir Restaurant and Tap Room, recently named best Manhattan clam chowder in New England by Yankee Magazine.  It also inlcudes three time defending Long Beach Island Chowderfest champion Stefano's plus defending champion Gray Goose of Fairfield CT. Grow, a soon to be opened new restaurant in Shelton owned by Liquid Lunch and will be using their Manhattan clam chowder recipe that came in second the past two years featuring fresh produce from Stone Garden Farms in Shelton .

Six of the ten restaurants are new to the Creative Chowder category and will put defending champion, The Spread in Norwalk, to the test.  Reigning Mystic chowder champion, Octagon Steakhouse, has a culinary pedigree that makes them a strong contender to win it all.  Vermont Chowder champs, Our House Bistro from Burlington along with award winning Smithsonian Chowderhouse from North Hampton MA won't make winning easy for anyone.  The competition also includes The Chelsea from Fairfield, a three time category winner Ginger Man of Norwalk and Greenwich, Ri Ra Irish Pub of Portsmouth NH and Portland ME, the highly acclaimed On20 from Hartford, a multi-Chowdafest-winner SBC of Southport, Milford and Brandford plus Simply Delicious of Norwalk.

The Soup & Bisque category features many past Chowdafest favorites including Cask Republic of Stamford and New Haven, Liquid Lunch of Shelton and Milford, Local Kitchen and Beer Bar of Norwalk and Fairfield, Old Post Tavern of Fairfield, Parallel Post of Trumbull, defending champion Soup Thyme of Monroe  plus Tikkaway of New Haven who had the highest rated bisque last year.  New in this category is Sam's American Bistro of Stamford, Geronimo of Fairfield and New Haven plus Osteria Romanna in Norwalk.  This category is wide open as the talent and creativity are so high that there is no clear cut favorite.

Chowdafest raises funds for Community Plates, a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to alleviating hunger through the rescue of food from restaurants, grocery stores and farms.  Attendees pay to be a judge.  Kids and adults alike get a spoon, ballot and pencil, then experience unlimited sampling rating each chowder, soup and bisque they try.

Adult tickets are just $15 and kids (6-12) $5.

Parking is FREE.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased on-line at www.Chowdafest.org.

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

Chowdafest, presented by Stop & Shop, is sponsored by: AAA Northeast, Aquafina, BlumShapiro, Cabot Creamery, City Carting, CT Bites, Dunkin Donuts, HamletHub, Kids Helping Kids, MINI of Fairfield County, New Milford Farms, Ocean Spray, OmnomCT.com, Pepperidge Farms, Peapod, PEZ, Sustainable America, Tostitos, The Beat Magazine, and more!

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.