Winners Announced: The 32nd Annual Clam Chowder Cook Off Was a Tasty Success

Clams, clams and more clams were served at the 32nd installment of the annual Clam Chowder Cook Off in 72 booths lined up at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Saturday,  stretching from the arcade by Neptune’s Kingdom all the way down to the log ride. Some competitors arrived before 10 a.m. just to set up their booths. 

By 10:30 a.m. there was already a line to buy tasting bids and the Boardwalk began getting crowded. Some booths were busy chopping and prepping away while others seemed calm and slow to start. 

Booths ranged from “individual” booths with one or two people, like ‘Clamnivore’ and ‘the Happy Clams’ to the “professional” restaurants such as like Severino’s Bar and Grill and Rosie McCann's.

Team “Clamnivore” from Chico was a small team of two so they got started right away. It was their first year competing and David Moniz said, “It’s interesting taking your recipe from home and making it for a larger number of people, and in front of people.”

One thing was certain, no matter how busy or slow each booth was every competitor had a smile on their face. Like Cindy Mason from “the Happy Clams” who told me she’d be serving joy, love, happiness and camaraderie with her clam chowder.

Thousands of people crowded the Boardwalk watching the cooking, and tasting as many chowders as their stomachs could hold. A tasting kit sold for $9 and got you five tasting tickets alongside a cup, spoon, napkin, and two people’s choice vote awards: one vote for a Boston-style chowder and one vote for a Manhattan-style chowder.

The tasting began at 1 p.m and lasted for about three hours, or as long as each competitor could last. Some booths like ‘the Kid’, ‘Happy Clams’, and Santa Cruz Sentinel’s Mexican Chowder ran out within the first hour of tasting. Other booths like Costanoa, which made 10 gallons, and Severino’s which had over 30 gallons (of Boston & Manhattan) chowder had plenty to go around.

 What makes chowder Mexican? “Four Mexicans are cooking it”, said Linda from behind the booth. “Also there’s going to be some spice...and for those who can handle it we have jalapeños and cilantro to spice it up.” 

While people from all around gathered along the Boardwalk to taste this year’s chowders, some 30 judges were served chowders separately in Sun Room B. Each contestant brought a hot cup of chowder to the judging room during their given time slot. Throughout the tasting and even in the end the judges had no idea who they were voting for. Each chowder was simply given a number rather than a name, insuring that none of the judge’s votes would be influenced by factors other than taste.

At 4:00 p.m. the winners of 13 categories were announced by K-WAVE radio host Barry Brown on the beach side. 

This year’s winners were:

*Best Individual Manhattan Chowder (Judge’s Choice):

3rd- Dragon Mama’s Portuguese Red

2nd- The Kid

1st- Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

*Best Professional Manhattan Chowder (Judge’s Choice):

3rd- Cabrillo College Culinary Chowder Cooks

2nd- Bay Area Ice Cream Catering

1st- Severino’s Bar&Grill

*Best Individual Boston Chowder (Judge’s Choice):

3rd- Pete’s Clamtastic Chowder

2nd- Alert Clam Company #1 (aka Santa Cruz Fire Dept.)

1st- Aly’s Louder Chowder

*Best Professional Boston Chowder (Judge’s Choice):

3rd- Aquarius

2nd- Local Harvest Catering Company

1st- South Beach Pizza Company

*A random drawing of the 4 Judge’s Choice 1st place for 2 United Airline Tickets:

Aly’s Louder Chowder

*Most Original Team/Best Decorated Booth (Judge’s Choice):

3rd- Faultline Brewing Company (Lambda Lambda Clambda/Greek themed booth with pillars and cooks in togas)

2nd- Silence of the Clams (Pictures of Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs [See Pictures])

1st- Cucina Bambina (Culinary school, with school girls in plaid skirts [See Pictures])

*Most Tasted Chowders (People’s taste tickets counted):

3rd- Rosie’s Clam & Get It

2nd-Silence of the Clams

1st- Peace, Love & Chowder (aka Wine & Swine)

*Sal Dinapoli “Special Spirit” Award-

Ray Ramirez and family for keeping their father, Raymond Ramirez’, booth going even after his death, earning their 40th award.

*Individual Manhattan Chowder (People’s Choice):

1st- Manhattan Mama

*Professional Manhattan Chowder (People’s Choice):

1st- Severino’s Bar&Grill

*Individual Boston Chowder (People’s Choice):

1st- 4 Men and a Clam

*Professional Boston Chowder (People’s Choice):

1st- Ideal Bar and Grill

*Every team drawing for $250:

-Ye’ Olde Cape Codders, however they were not there to receive their prize so

-Serritella’s was announced as the winner