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March 13, 2012
This 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 crowdTwelve 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 MCThe 2012 Chowder ChefsRestaurants:
Silos Chris Daniels/Roland Pare
Toucan Grill Michael Gibson
Trawl Door Stephen SnowIndividuals:
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 winnersJudges (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 GibsonChef 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.[page]
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 VFDThis table had “sand” – it was actually brown sugar.The Beth Larson teamBill Sternburg’s chowder didn’t lack for ingrediantsView from above – the Chowder Cook-Off is held on grounds of the Oriental Marina Inn.Bluegrass and chowder go together at the cook-offIt 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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