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NEWPORT, RI, March 00, 2009 – Already off to a great start securing some of the titans of chowder from across the country and beyond our shores, the 28th Schweppes Great Chowder Cook-Off invites chefs to put their secret clam, seafood, and creative chowder recipes to the test at the original and longest running chowder competition in the world. The competition will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2009 from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the Newport Yachting Center on 4 Commercial Wharf in downtown Newport, Rhode Island.
Open to local, regional and international chefs who work at restaurants, catering companies and institutional dining facilities, the spirited competition for bragging rights and over $10,000 in prizes and awards is a fun-filled day for the chowder creators as well as the tasters. The key requirements to enter the competition are a winning chowder recipe and an enthusiastic staff! Additional information on the Schweppes Great Chowder Cook-Off is available by contacting Mike Martin, Director of the Newport Waterfront Events, at (401) 846-1600, Ext. 210 or visiting www.newportwaterfrontevents.com.
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 serve as the 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 will be back this year as well with restaurants vying for the most delicious clam cakes in New England designated by local celebrity judges.
“In addition to our loyal competitors from Newport and the surrounding area who are a key ingredient to our cook-off each year, we’ve also secured competitors from around the world and across the country, including the Elbow Beach, Bermuda, Tony’s Cedar Key Clam Chowder in Cedar Key, Florida and the second straight appearance by the Blue Mermaid Seafood and Chowder House in San Francisco who needs one more win for enshrinement in the Great Chowder Cook-Off Hall of Fame,” said Martin, Director of the Newport Waterfront Events. Martin added that, with the struggling economy in mind, competing offers a relatively inexpensive way for chefs to stimulate traffic at their respective restaurants due to the high media exposure and attendance the event typically enjoys. The event is also a perfect antidote to strengthen staff togetherness and morale.
Three stages of entertainment, a variety of children’s kidSTOPs, fund raising activities for local non-profits and a Marketplace with a variety of crafts and specialty items will add to the festive atmosphere.
After a close competition, last year's chowder winners were "Best Clam" –The Skipper Restaurant & Chowder House, Yarmouth, MA; "Best Seafood" –The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar, Newport, RI; and "Best Creative"- The Boat House, Tiverton, RI. The “Best Clamcake” winner was Harmon’s Clam Cakes located in Kennebunkport, ME.
This year, the gates will open at 11:00 a.m. and the celebration will continue until 6:00 p.m. when the winners in each major category will be announced. Ticket prices for the Schweppes Great Chowder Cook-Off are $17.00 for adults in advance of the show (ordered by May 30th) and $20.00 the day of the event. Children under the age of 12 are admitted for FREE with a paying adult.
For advance tickets to the Schweppes Great Chowder Cook-Off, and/or to sign up for the Newport Waterfront Events e-mail Newsletter featuring discounts, fresh news, exclusive offers and more, please go to www.newportwaterfrontevents.com. You may also call the Newport Yachting Center Box Office on 4 Commercial Wharf (off America’s Cup Avenue) in downtown Newport at (401) 846-1600, Ext 3. For more information, please visit www.newportwaterfrontevents.com or contact Mike Martin at (401) 846-1600, Ext. 210 or Rich Travis at (401) 846-1600, Ext. 206
“It’s all here!” at the Newport Yachting Center with a 2009 Newport Waterfront Events line-up which includes the 35th Annual Newport Spring Boat Show (May 15-17), the 28th Annual Schweppes Great Chowder Cook-Off (June 6), the 12th Annual Nantucket Nectars Sunset Music Series and the 9th Annual Newport Comedy Series (both held throughout the summer)), the Newport Arts Festival (August 29-30); the 12th Annual Newport Waterfront Irish Festival (September 5 -7), the 39th Annual Newport International Boat Show (September 17-20), the 21st Annual Stop & Shop Taste of Rhode Island (October 3-4) and the 17th Annual International Oktoberfest (October 10-12). All the events are held at the Newport Yachting Center in the “city by the sea” where beach-going, shopping, dining and enjoying the nightlife are often a part of the pre- or post-Newport Waterfront Events activity.
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