This weekend is all about chowder

By Ron Jackimowicz, Cuisine editor
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 | No comments posted.

Font Size: Shrink Font Enlarge Font |
This weekend is about chowder

By Ron Jackimowicz

Cuisine editor

This weekend is one of my two favorite festivals on the annual South Coast calendar  — Chowder, Blues & Brews at the Florence Events Center (the other has nothing to do with food, it’s the Chainsaw Festival on Father’s Day weekend in Reedsport).

I enjoy this festival so much, that I’m cutting my birthday trip a few days short just to be there for the chowder contest.

If you haven’t been to Chowder, Blues & Brews before, I think it’s worth the drive. If you like the blues, it’s a must. The event is Friday afternoon through Sunday. The highlight for me is the clam chowder contest on Saturday. Professional chefs from Bandon to Cannon Beach will compete for the top prize of $1,000.

At 1 p.m. on Saturday the People’s Choice competition for best chowder begins and hundreds of people line up in the theater to try a sample from each of the profession chefs.

The competition continues until the chowder is gone.

If you’ve been to the competition before, but didn’t go last year, the venue improved the crowding situation by putting the vendors in a tent in front of the events center. This opened up plenty of seating to watch the musical acts.

They even put a big-screen monitor in the tent, so you wouldn’t miss the music while visiting the vendors.

A big turnout of chefs from the readership area of The World are expected to compete this year. Three-time winner Lee Erbele, now of Lakeshore Lodge in Lakeside will be there as well as Wayne Rettinger, the People’s Choice winner last year from Anchor Grill in Winchester Bay.

Bandon Dunes will send a representative to compete, as will the High Tide Cafe in Charleston. Chef Oscar Sermeno from Brickstones at the Red Lion Inn is expected to return as well.

Reedsport may be sending two representatives. Jack Gentle from The Tides Inn said this weekend that he and his wife will definitely be competing, and The Waterfront is also on the competitors list.

Chefs from Newport, Lincoln City, Pacific City and Cannon Beach are also scheduled to compete.
Tags »
Previous Email this story to yourself or a friend Print this story Next

Have you checked out The World Link Forums?

Comments

The comments below are from users of theworldlink.com and do not necessarily represent the views of The World or Lee Enterprises. Participation Guidelines

Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Comment Policy

The World welcomes your comments about stories, and we encourage a robust dialogue on this site. All comments must meet reasonable standards of decency and civility.

Please follow these basic rules:

  • No defamatory comments about individuals or businesses.
  • No deliberately false information.
  • No obscenity or racially offensive language.
  • No harassment, verbal abuse, threats or personal attacks.
  • No information that invades another person's privacy.
  • No business solicitations or charitable solicitations.
Comments that violate these standards will not be posted. Users with repeated violations may be banned from future posting.

Comments will be approved throughout the day during business hours. After hours and weekend comments may not appear until the following business day. It may take a couple of hours before comments are approved.

The World generally does not edit comments, but we reserve the right to edit any comment that does not meet our standards.

Close Guidelines

No comments posted.


*Member ID:
*Password:
 

Not already registered?

Do not use usernames or passwords from your financial accounts!

Note: Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required!



*Create a Member ID:
*Choose a password:
*Re-enter password:
*E-mail Address:
*Year of Birth:
 

(children under 13 cannot register)

*First Name:
*Last Name:
Would you like to be added to our mailing lists?
Daily Headlines
Breaking News
Special Offers
 
Advanced Search
Web Search powered by YAHOO! SEARCH

Blogroll

Most Popular

Polls

» View Past Poll Results
» Suggest a Poll

Marketplace

Special Sections

More Special Sections