Are You A Chowder Afficianado? Then Read On!

If you plan to head to Newport, Rhode Island this summer and have a hankering for some chowder, check out these establishments that are the creme of the crop in this local chowder cook-off.

A release from the Newport Yachting Center:

The Newport Yachting Center announces the winners of the 30th annual Knorr Great Chowder Cook-off.

Thousands of chowder lovers savored the sumptuous soups of the best chefs at the 30th Annual Knorr Great Chowder Cook-Off, held June 5 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 winners are:

The 2011 Best Clam Chowder

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

2nd Place – Stefano’s Seafood Restaurant, Long Beach Island, NJ and chef, Stephen DiPietro

3rd Place – Ocean Breeze Cafe, Newport, RI and chef, Christine Melucci

The 2011 Best Seafood Chowder

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

2nd Place – Melville Grille, Portsmouth, RI, and chef, W. Scott Cowell, III

3rd Place – Castle Hill Inn, Newport, RI and chef, Jonathan Cambra

The 2011 Best Creative Chowder

1st Place – The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar, Newport, RI and chef, Rob Deluise

2nd Place – 22 Bowens Wine Bar & Grille, Newport, RI and chef, Jay Bourassa

3rd Place – Trio, Narragansett, RI and chef, Mike Conetta

Most Spirited Team Winner – Bobette’s Take Out Bistro, Milford, CT

Best Decorated Booth Winner – Melville Grille, Portsmouth, RI

“It was a thick day of competition,“ said Mike Martin, Festival Director for the Newport Yachting Center.  “Both Tony’s from Florida and Michael’s from North Carolina were inducted into the Great Chowder Cook-Off Hall of Fame for winning a third time and a local favorite, The Mooring, rose to the top in the ‘Best Creative’ chowder category.” 

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.