Local Restaurants Win Chowder Cook-Off

Thousands of chowder lovers savored the sumptuous soups of the best chefs at the 32nd Annual Polar Seltzer Great Chowder Cook-Off, held Saturday at the Newport Yachting Center.

But they also had a job to do — to determine who was going to take home the coveted titles of “Best Clam,” “Best Seafood” and “Best Creative” chowder and thousands in prize money.

The 2013 Best Clam Chowder

1st Place – Stefano’s Seafood Restaurant, Long Beach Island, NJ

2nd Place – Pike Place Chowder, Seattle, WA

3rd Place – Luke’s Lobster/Hurricane’s Soup, Greene, ME & New York City

The 2013 Best Seafood Chowder

1st Place – Melville Grille, Portsmouth, RI

2nd Place – Rhody Joe’s, Wakefield, RI

3rd Place – StoneRidge, Mystic, CT

The 2013 Best Creative Chowder

1st Place – Octagon Restaurant, Groton, CT

2nd Place – The Boat House, Tiverton, RI

3rd Place – The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar, Newport, RI

People’s Choice Most Spirited Team Winner – Hammerheads Oyster Bar, Windsor, NC

Best Decorated Booth Winner – Hammerheads Oyster Bar, Windsor, NC

“Stefano’s and the Melville Grille made it two in a row in their respective categories and will be shooting for three straight titles and automatic induction into the Great Chowder Cook-Off Hall of Fame next year while a first-time participant, the Octagon Restaurant and its Dragon Chowder, beat out two past champions in the Creative category,“ said Mike Martin, Festival Director for the Newport Yachting Center.  Martin added that the real winners were the thousands who came out to enjoy all the chowder and entertainment, as well as the local charities that benefited from the event.

The highly anticipated competition boasts 4,000 gallons of delicious chowder prepared by the nation's best chefs who serve samples of their sumptuous creations to the thousands of chowder loving festival attendees who double as judges.