Trio, Rhody Joe’s Competing in Great Chowder Cook-Off

The Newport Yachting Center’s 31st Annual Schweppes Great Chowder Cook-Off will include Trio restaurant in Narragansett and its chef, Kevin Gaudreau, as well as Rhody Joe’s of Wakefield and its chef, Wayne Hemond, both competing in the “Seafood” category.

The cook-off is the original, largest and longest running chowder championships in the country. It is scheduled for Saturday, June 2 from noon to 6 p.m.

“Trio and Rhody Joe’s should have reason to be optimistic as Michael’s Seafood Restaurant from Carolina Beach, North Carolina became a three-time winner in the Seafood category last year with its recipe retired to the Chowder Hall of Fame, so the field is wide open,” said Mike Martin, Director of Newport Waterfront Events at the Newport Yachting Center. 

Martin added that attendees will enjoy a number of other newcomers hoping to thicken the competition, including the Bunratty Manor Hotel from County Clare, Ireland, which was crowned champion of the 2011 Irish National Chowder Cook-Off.

Open to local, regional and international chefs who work at restaurants, catering companies and institutional dining facilities, the spirited competition for bragging rights and the more than doubled prize pot of $13,000, plus awards, is a fun-filled day for the chowder creators as well as the tasters. 

The Great Chowder Cook-Off features all-you-can-eat "chowda" from the nation's best chefs who serve samples of their sumptuous creations to the tens-of-thousands of chowder loving festival attendees who also act 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.

After a close competition, last year's chowder winners were "Best Clam" – Tony’s Cedar Key Clam Chowder, Cedar Key, FL; "Best Seafood" – Michael’s Seafood Restaurant, Carolina Beach, NC; and "Best Creative" - The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar, Newport, RI.

But it is not all about the “Chowda”.  Back by popular demand is the “Clam Cake Chow-Down” eating contest, the Stop & Shop Culinary stage featuring culinary demonstration by Chef Timothy, a Stuffie Recipe Contest, three stages of live music and RIPTA’s Travelin’ Buddies kidSTOPs throughout the site.

The Schweppes Great Chowder Cook-Off ticket price is $20 through Friday, June 1, with the Saturday, June 2 day-of event ticket price at $25.  All tickets include FREE admittance to the event for children under the age of 12 as long as a paying adult accompanies them. 

To purchase tickets, please visit newportwaterfrontevents.com or contact the Newport Yachting Center at (401) 846-1600. Tickets can also be purchased seven days a week at the Newport Yachting Center Box Office on 4 Commercial Wharf (on America’s Cup Avenue) in downtown Newport.

For more information the Great Chowder Cook-Off, visit newportwaterfrontevents.com or contact Mike Martin at the Newport Yachting Center at (401) 846-1600 x210 or greatchowdercookoff@newportyachtingcenter.com.

Release courtesy of Dodge Associates, on behalf of the cook-off.