“Ready…Aim…Taste” will be the order of the day at Newport Waterfront Events’ 37th Annual Great Chowder Cook-Off, to take place on Saturday, June 2ND from noon to 6:00 p.m. at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, Rhode Island. Among those preparing to put their special recipes to the test in the original and longest running “chowdah” championships in the country are newbies Beara Coast Hotel Castletownbarre from Cork, Ireland; Our House Bistro of Winooski, Vermont; Blackies Bulldog Tavern from Smithfield, Rhode Island; and La Forge from Newport, Rhode Island, along with veteran competitors, including Bristol Plymouth Regional Technical School – Culinary Arts Program of Taunton, Massachusetts; The Boathouse in Tiverton, Rhode Island; Woods Tavern of West Greenwich, Rhode Island, Crowther’s Restaurant from Little Compton, Rhode Island and MainSail at the Newport Marriott. Competitors serve all-you-can-eat samples of chowder in the traditional “Best Clam” and “Best Seafood” categories while gunning for bragging rights and prize money. Rhode Island’s kick-off to the summer season, the event also features other fun ingredients including the Matunuck Oyster Festival, live music and a variety of entertainment for all ages.
“We have a great mix of rookie competitors this year who are looking to sneak up on those veterans in the competition dreaming of chowder glory,” said Michele Maker Palmieri, Owner and President of Waterfront Productions, the parent company of Newport Waterfront Events. “We are excited that Cook-Off also has an international ingredient once again with a competitor from the emerald island.” Palmieri added that awards for Most Team Spirit and Coolest Chowder Booth will also be presented.
The competition features the recipes of award-winning chefs representing restaurants, catering companies, clam shacks and culinary schools. Competing chefs lovingly prepare 100 gallons of delicious chowder and serve endless samples of their sumptuous creations to the thousands of festival attendees who also serve as judges.
Admission to the Great Chowder Cook-Off also includes a variety of entertainment, including Oyster Shucking & Slurping Contests, Beer Shucking, live music from The Ravers, Cee Cee & the Riders and The Brian Scott Band, Matunuck Oyster Farm’s Newport Oyster Festival featuring its famous lobster rolls and raw bar, sponsor sampling and a number of activities for the littlenecks. Aside from the all-you-can-eat chowder, there will be a host of other food options for sale from GottaQ, Jeff’s Wood Fire Pizza, Red’s Street Kitchen, Jerry’s Pastries, Saugy Inc., Ben & Jerry’s and Del’s Lemonade, as well as full bars serving beer, wine and summer-themed cocktails.
Parking for the Great Chowder Cook-Off will be free but limited at Fort Adams State Park. Attendees are encouraged to take a RIPTA bus directly to Fort Adams State Park from the Newport Marriott in downtown Newport or contact Old Port Marine and the Jamestown Ferry regarding water shuttles to Fort Adams from both downtown Newport and Jamestown. Please visit www.riwaterfrontevents.com and click on “Venue Information” for more information.
The Great Chowder Cook-Off is offering a discounted ticket prices of $20 through Friday, June 1st and $25 the day of the event. Children are admitted free if age 12 and under and accompanied by a paid adult. To purchase tickets, please visit www.riwaterfrontevents.com or order by phone by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased as walk ups during business hours at Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream at 359 Thames Street in downtown Newport.
The event’s partners include Stop & Shop, Diageo Spirits, RIPTA, Whalers Brewing Company, Cabot, Pawtucket Red Sox, Matunuck Oyster Farm, Discover Newport, What’s Up Newp, Fort Adams Trust, I Heart Radio (94 WHJY, Coast 93.3, B101), WPRI 12, Fox Providence, The Rhode Show, The Providence CW and myRITV.
For more information on the Great Chowder Cook-Off, please visit www.riwaterfrontevents.com.