New in 2015 was the Amateur Chowder Contest.
13 amateurs brought crock pots of steaming chowder. (Mine is the one on the right.)
The judges are ready to 'chowdah'! Three chefs from the Tom Douglas Company, plus Zach Forster - WA State Department of Fish & Wildlife - were the judges.
Judges from left to right: Zach Forster - Dept of Fish and Wildlife, Chef Matt Fortner from Tanaka San, Chef Stacy Fortner pastry chef from the Dahlia Lounge and Chef Nate Crave from Trattoria Cuoco.
The winning chowder was from an Astoria couple. It was a smoked razor clam chowder with corn. They garnished it with applewood smoked bacon and smoked sea salt. The salty smokey flavor stood out.
The 3rd place chowder was from Long Beach, WA. He told me that he cured his own pork to use in his recipe. It was tasty.
Sadly my Seaview Chowder did not win. It had razor clams and steamer clams. It was brothy, and aromatic. Other contestants and people in the audience thought my presentation was best. Many shouted out - it looks like The Depot Chowder - which I take as a compliment because Chef Michael is my chowder muse and The Depot Restaurant won BEST restaurant chowder in a people's choice contest! I will be posting recipes soon.