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Chowder Cook-Off 2012
12 Chefs and Over 300 Chowderheads
March 13, 2012

T
his year restaurants took top honors in the annual Chowder Cook-Off (in years past sometimes a fire dept had whupped up on some local chefs). Over 300 people came to taste with spoons in hand in the 2012 Chowder Cook-Off Saturday. That crowd doesn’t just show up, they are part of the event. Every attendee purchases a ticket to take part in the chowder sampling. The Cook-Off is held every March by the Oriental Woman’s Club as a fundraiser.

The 2012 chowder crowd
Twelve cooks (some teams of cooks) each cooked up gallons of chowder. As an attendee, you simply wander to each table and get a sample cup of chowder. You enjoy (hopefully), and after sampling all the chowders cast your vote for the best. In addition, a team of judges (this year two chefs and TV weatherman Skip Waters) determine who they think is #1.

Skip Waters was both a judge and the MC
The 2012 Chowder Chefs

Restaurants:
Silos Chris Daniels/Roland Pare
Toucan Grill Michael Gibson
Trawl Door Stephen Snow

Individuals:
Beth Larsen, Art Richards, Keith Bratcher, Ricky Miller, Sue Hiller, Bill Sternberg, Torey Neill, the Florence/Whortonsville VFD, and the team entry of Tonya Smith, Ben Reese & Tom Cochran.

The 2012 award winners

Judges (blind tasting):
1st Place Trawl Door Restaurant – Chef Stephen Snow
2nd Place Silos Restaurant – Chefs Chris Daniels and Roland Pare
3rd Place Keith Bratcher (individual entry)

Peoples Choice:
1st Place Silos Restaurant – Chefs Chris Daniels and Roland Pare
2nd Place Trawl Door Restaurant – Chef Stephen Snow
3rd Place Toucan Grill Restaurant – Chef Michael Gibson

Chef Stephen Snow of the new Trawl Door restaurant placed #1 by the judges, and #2 in the Peoples Choice Award.
The Silos Chowder Team took #1 for the People’s Choice Award, and #2 in the Judges Award. From left chefs Roland Pare, Mooky, and Chris Daniels.
Harbor Sounds provided the tunes for chowderin’ down.

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The Panache Award (for the best decorated table – selected by the event committee) went to Beth Larsen.

The Oriental Woman’s Club presented an “Enduring Award” to the Florence/Whortonsville VFD chowder team. The fire dept has entered all five of the OWC Chowder Cook-Offs (and placed #1 along the way).

The Florence/Whortonsville VFD
This table had “sand” – it was actually brown sugar.
The Beth Larson team
Bill Sternburg’s chowder didn’t lack for ingrediants
View from above – the Chowder Cook-Off is held on grounds of the Oriental Marina Inn.
Bluegrass and chowder go together at the cook-off
It was labeled “two hot chahuahuas spicey hot chowdau”. Sammie and Sofie were along with their humans – Tonya Smith, Ben Reese & Tom Cochran.

The funds raised are used by the Oriental Woman’s Club, whose 2012 budget includes donations to more than 15 other charitable organizations. This was the 5th Chowder Cook-Off. There will be more…

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Posted Tuesday March 13, 2012 by Keith N. Smith


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