Rhody Joe's Wins Second Place In Newport's Seafood Chowder Cookoff

Wakefield's Rhody Joe's took home the coveted second place title in the best seafood chowder category at Newport's 32nd Annual Annual Polar Seltzer Great Chowder Cook-Off on Saturday

Thousands of chowder lovers savored the sumptuous soups stirred up by dozens of the Nation's best chefs this weekend, judging the textures and flavors and eventual winners. Rhody Joe's was one of just four other Rhode Island restaurants recognized.

The cook-off took place from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the Newport Yachting Center, located at 4 Commercial Wharf.  

The 2013 Best Seafood Chowder

1st Place – Melville Grille, Portsmouth, RI

2nd Place – Rhody Joe’s, Wakefield, RI

3rd Place – StoneRidge, Mystic, CT

The 2013 Best Clam Chowder

1st Place – Stefano’s Seafood Restaurant, Long Beach Island, NJ

2nd Place – Pike Place Chowder, Seattle, WA

3rd Place – Luke’s Lobster/Hurricane’s Soup, Greene, ME & New York City

The 2013 Best Creative Chowder

1st Place – Octagon Restaurant, Groton, CT

2nd Place – The Boat House, Tiverton, RI

3rd Place – The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar, Newport, RI

People’s Choice Most Spirited Team Winner – Hammerheads Oyster Bar, Windsor, NC

Best Decorated Booth Winner – Hammerheads Oyster Bar, Windsor, NC

“Stefano’s and the Melville Grille made it two in a row in their respective categories and will be shooting for three straight titles and automatic induction into the Great Chowder Cook-Off Hall of Fame next year while a first-time participant, the Octagon Restaurant and its Dragon Chowder, beat out two past champions in the Creative category,“ said Mike Martin, Festival Director for the Newport Yachting Center.  Martin 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 4,000 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.