The 31^st Annual Schweppes Great Chowder Cook-Off, to take place on June 2 at the Newport Yachting Center, announced a call for entries for its inaugural “The Right Stuffie” Stuffed Quahog Recipe Contest. 

For those who have a classic or innovative stuffed quahog recipe that friends and family just can’t get enough of, organizers of the Great Chowder Cook-Off want to hear about it – and taste it! 

Newport Waterfront Events Facebook fans will select one winner from all the submissions with the honoree receiving a VIP upgrade for the Great Chowder Cook-Off, a $100 Newport Restaurant Group gift card and a Chowder Cook-Off swag bag. 

Recipe entries are now being accepted online at facebook.com/waterfrontevents until May 25.  Contestants can simply post their name, ingredients list, cooking notes and a list of the reasons why this particular recipe and its preparer have “The Right Stuffie.  Facebook fans will vote from May 26 – May 30, and the winner will beannounced on Friday, June 1.

The Great Chowder Cook-Off is open to local, regional and international chefs who work at restaurants, catering companies and institutional dining facilities.  The spirited competition for bragging rights and nearly $15,000 in prizes and awards is a fun-filled day for the chowder creators as well as the tasters.  The event features all-you-can-eat "chowda" from the nation's best chefs who serve samples of their sumptuous creations to the thousands of chowder loving festival attendees who also act as judges.  Chefs compete for the coveted titles of "Best Clam," "Best Seafood," and "Best Creative" chowder with prize money being awarded to the top three winners in each category.  In fact, the prize pot has doubled this year with $2,000 going to the First-Place Winners in each category.

After a close competition, last year's chowder winners were "Best Clam" – Tony’s Cedar Key Clam Chowder, Cedar Key, FL; "Best Seafood" – Michael’s Seafood Restaurant, Carolina Beach, NC; and "Best Creative" - The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar, Newport, RI.

But it is not all about the “Chowda”.  Back by popular demand is the “Clam Cake Chow-Down” eating contest, the Stop & Shop Culinary stage featuring culinary demonstration by Chef Timothy and RIPTA’s Travelin’ Buddies kidSTOPs throughout the site.

The Schweppes Great Chowder Cook-Off ticket price is $20 through Friday, June 1^st with the Saturday, June 2^nd day-of event ticket costing $25.  All tickets include free admittance to the event for children under the age of 12 as long as a paying adult accompanies them.  To purchase tickets, please visit newportwaterfrontevents.com or contact the Newport Yachting Center at (401) 846-1600.  Tickets to can also be purchased as walk ups seven days a week starting in mid-May at the Newport Yachting Center Box Office on 4 Commercial Wharf (on America’s Cup Avenue) in downtown Newport.

 For more information on “The Right Stuffie Stuffed Quahog Recipe Contest”, please visit newportwaterfrontevents.com or contact Mike Martin at the Newport Yachting Center at (401) 846-1600 x210 or greatchowdercookoff@newportyachtingcenter.com.