32nd Annual Chowder Cook Off Kicks Off Saturday

The 32nd Annual Polar Seltzer Great Chowder Cook-Off kicks off on Saturday, June 1 at the Newport Yachting Center and discounted tickets will be available through May 31.

The Yachting Center announced it will offer “Ten Clams Off” its $25 day-of event ticket starting tomorrow, Friday, March 22 at noon through Wednesday, May 1.

The discounted, $20 ticket to the original, largest and longest running chowder championships in the country also includes membership in limited quantities into the Chowdahead Club featuring the “Chowder Power Hour” where the ultimate “Chowda” fans can enjoy an early, all-access experience an hour prior to the event’s official noon start.  

The discounted ticket price of $20 will be available through Friday, May 31 with the Saturday, June 1 day-of event ticket costing $25.  All tickets include complimentary admittance to the Newport Oyster Festival, a new element to the Great Chowder Cook-Off this year.  Children are admitted free if under the age of 12 and accompanied by a paid adult.  To purchase tickets, please visit newportwaterfrontevents.com or order by phone by calling 800-745-3000. 

The new Newport Oyster Festival is only be a cherrystone’s throw away just outside the gates at the Newport Yachting Center throughout the day on June 1.  The best of local shellfish and seafood will be presented farmers’ market style by Matunuck Oyster Farm and paired with beer, wine, spirits and live music.  The Festival will continue long into the evening making it a great after-party following the Great Chowder Cook-Off awards ceremony.

Open to local, regional and international chefs who work at restaurants, catering companies and institutional dining facilities, the spirited Great Chowder Cook-Off 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, including $2,000 each for the first-place winners. 

But it is not all about the “Chowda”.  Back by popular demand, the “Clam Cake Chow-Down” eating contest, the Stop & Shop Culinary stage featuring culinary demonstration, multiple stages of live music and fun KidSTOPs will be taken place throughout .

After a close competition, last year's Great Chowder Cook-Off winners were "Best Clam" – Stefano’s Seafood Restaurant, Long Beach Island, NJ; "Best Seafood" – Melville Grille, Portsmouth, RI; and "Best Creative" - The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar, Newport, RI.

For more information, please visit newportwaterfrontevents.com or contact the Newport Yachting Center at (401) 846-1600.

Information provided by the Newport Yachting Center