The clouds were getting darker and darker. There was no escaping it – it was going to get a little wet for those attending Chowderfest. Soon enough, the skies opened and it rained. And rained. And rained some more, just to make sure the rain that had already fallen stayed nice and wet.
But were the chowderheads going to be deterred? Not one bit. They just huddled a little closer under the tents, debating which chowder they liked the best.
For more than 20 years, Chowderfest on Long Beach Island has been a great way to get fall started as well as grab an after hours taste of summer. And taste is what it’s all about, with local restaurants competing for the title of best white and red chowders. It’s a serious competition, no doubt, but the competitors make sure to dish out a lot of fun to the attendees with their decorative booths, chanting and shouting the praises of their chowder and the occasional wacky giveaway.
And those aforementioned chowderheads? Yes, they have a good time – but don’t think for a second that they take the competition part lightly. These folks are serious about their chowder, and serious about how they carry their chowder samples around without spilling. A muffin tin to you or me becomes a chowder transport vessel for these professionals.
So who were the winners this year? Check here to see the results!
John and Lisa Howard-Fusco Regional Editors, Ocean County. Although they and their two kids call Ocean County home, their John and Lisa Are Eating in South Jersey food blog has them traveling all over the southern region of New Jersey. They and their blog have been mentioned in articles by the New York Times, Courier-Post, nj.com and njmonthly.com. Lisa has written articles and reviews for South Jersey magazine as well as for Ed Hitzel’s Restaurant Newsletter and Hitzel’s Restaurant Magazine. And John could use a Gaetano’s cheesesteak right about now.
