Amateurs, pros face off at the Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook-Off
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The annual Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook-Off took over the Boardwalk this past weekend for people to chow down on two varieties of the famous soup on February 22 and 23.
The two-day event welcomes professional and amateur competitors for a friendly competition in making the best Boston or Manhattan clam chowder.
Boston clam chowder is the more well-known of the two chowders and is milk and cream-based with potatoes with The Silence of the Clams and The Rustic Table taking first place in their respective amateur and professional rounds.
Manhattan clam chowder is tomato-based with vegetables such as celery with Little Neck Rex and Seascape Golf Club: Master Edition winning first place in their respective amateur and professional competitions.
As for the People's Choice winners, 4 Men and a Clam and Ideal Bar and Grill won for the amateur and professional Boston clam chowder respectively.
The Pink Flamingo and Redwood Sluggers took the People's Choice for their amateur and professional Manhattan clam chowder.
Other contests included Most Tasted and Best Booth Theming.
The following is the list of the winners in both the amateur and professional competitions:
Amateur Competition Results
Best Boston
- 1st Place: The Silence of the Clams
- 2nd Place: Millie’s Best Boston
- 3rd Place: All Clams Matter
Best Manhattan
- 1st Place: Little Neck Rex
- 2nd Place: Dragonmama’s Portuguese Red
- 3rd Place: Clam Halen
People’s Choice Winner
Boston
- 1st Place: 4 Men and a Clam; 395 votes
Manhattan
- 1st Place: The Pink Flamingos; 397 votes
Most Tasted
- 1st Place: Silence of the Clams; 1656 tastes
- 2nd Place: 4 Men and a Clam (Boston)
- 3rd Place: Bloody Brilliant Chowder
Best Booth Theming
- 1st Place: The Silence of the Clams
- 2nd Place: Rocky Horror Clam Show
- 3rd Place: The Krusty Klam
Professional Competition Results
Best Boston
- 1st Place: The Rustic Table
- 2nd Place: The Point Kitchen and Bar
- 3rd Place: Ideal Bar and Grill
Best Manhattan
- 1st Place: Seascape Golf Club: Masters Edition
- 2nd Place: Redwood Sluggers
- 3rd Place: Bearded Clams Unite
People’s Choice Winner
Boston
- 1st Place: Ideal Bar and Grill; 520 votes
Manhattan
- 1st Place: Redwood Sluggers; 590 votes
Most Tasted
- 1st Place: Ideal Bar and Grill; 2,405 tastes
- 2nd Place: Dominican Oaks
- 3rd Place: Jack O’Neill Restaurant & Lounge
Best Booth Theming
- 1st Place: Seascape Golf Club: Masters Edition
- 2nd Place: Jack O’Neill Restaurant & Lounge
- 3rd Place: Chowder Slugs/Redwood Sluggers
