Boat House from Tiverton Wins “Best Creative” Chowder Category

and North Kingstown’s Oak Hill Tavern cops “Best Clam Cake” Category

 

NEWPORT, RI, June 7, 2010 -- Thousands of chowder lovers savored the sumptuous soups of the best chefs at the 29^th Annual Knorr Great Chowder Cook-Off, held Saturday at the Newport Yachting Center on 4 Commercial Wharf. 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, “Best Clam Cake” and thousands in prize money.

 

The winners are:

The 2010 Best Clam Chowder

1^st Place – Tony’s Cedar Key Clam Chowder, Cedar Key, FL and chef, Eric Jungklaus

2^nd Place – Hemenway’s, Providence, RI and chef, Steven Long

3^rd Place – Stella Blues, Warren, RI and chef, Brian Aspesi

 

The 2010 Best Seafood Chowder

1^st Place – Michael’s Seafood, Carolina Beach, NC and chef, Michael McGowan

2^nd Place – Hammerhead Grill, Narragansett, RI, and chef, Mike Sweeney

3^rd Place – Tracy’s King Crab Shack, Juneau, AK and cook, Tracy LaBarge

 

The 2010 Best Creative Chowder

1^st Place – Boat House, Tiverton, RI and chef, James Campagna

2^nd Place – Liquid Lunch, Shelton, CT and chef, Michele Bialek

3^rd Place – Waterman Grille, Providence, RI and chef, Mark Broccoli

 

The 2010 Best Clam Cake

1^st Place – Oak Hill Tavern, North Kingston, RI and chef, Brian Casey

2^nd Place – Harmon’s Clam Cakes, Kennebunkport, ME and chef, Steve Liautaud

 

Clambassador Award Winner - Tracy’s King Crab Shack, Juneau, AK

Most Team Spirit Winner – Tony’s Seafood Restaurant (Tony’s Cedar Key Clam Chowder), Cedar Key, FL

Best Decorated Booth Winner – Mud City Crab House, Manahawkin, NJ

 

“It was a fun day of competition! Tiverton’s Boat House restaurant created a new recipe special for this year -- scallop and fresh bacon chowder -- that was the favorite in the ‘Best Creative’ category,“ said Mike Martin, Festival Director for the Newport Yachting Center. “The southern hospitality of two of last year’s winners in the ‘Best Clam’ and ‘Best Seafood’ categories also really shined through as they both won for a second year in a row and are now hoping that three’s a charm next year as it means an automatic induction into the Great Chowder Cook-Off Hall of Fame." Martin also 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 3,000 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. 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. The ultimate Clam Cake Competition was also back this year with restaurants vying for the most delicious clam cakes in New England designated by local celebrity judges.

 

For more information, please contact the Newport Yachting Center, 4 Commercial Wharf, Newport, RI 02840. Tel: (401) 846-1600. Web: www.newportwaterfrontevents.com.