The 26th Annual Clam Chowder Cook Off
Saturday,
February 23, 2008

Join the fun and excitement as talented chefs from throughout the West Coast compete for the glory of the BEST CLAM CHOWDER!

More than just a culinary competition, the fun event has featured participants dressed as scuba divers, mermaids, and even as a “Clam Fairy.”

The competition features three divisions: Individuals, Restaurants, and Corporate/Media.

Top awards include cash prizes, round-trip tickets courtesy of Continental Airlines, and more.

AND HERE ARE YOUR 2008 COOK OFF WINNERS!

Best Individual Manhattan
1st Place – The Kid (Dylan France, San Jose)
2nd Place – Grandma’s Clam Diggers (Salome Ponce, Aptos)
3rd Place – Gilligans Island Chowder (Mark Joe Phillips, Santa Cruz)

Best Individual Boston
1st Place – Rack of Clams (Tom Mietz, Santa Cruz)
2nd Place – Clamma Lamma Ding Dongs (Amy Gilmore, Roseville)
3rd Place – Gold Country Clam Jumpers (Luis Hurtado, Ione)

Best Professional Manhattan
1st Place – Severinos, Aptos
2nd Place – Bon Appetit Management/ Cisco,  San Jose
3rd Place – Fresh Prep, Santa Cruz

Best Professional Boston
1st Place – Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing, Santa Cruz
2nd Place – Fresh Prep, Santa Cruz
3rd Place – Fog Mountain Café, Sacramento

Best Corporate
1st Place – Draeger Construction, San Jose
2nd Place – Aegis at Aptos, Aptos
3rd Place – Bayside Baptist Boys, Santa Cruz

Most Original Team
1st Place: Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing, Santa Cruz
2nd Place: Good Samaritan Hospital, San Jose
3rd Place: DragonMamas Decision '08, Fremont

Most Tasted Individual
Rosie’s Clam and Get It! (Boston), Capitola

Most Tasted Restaurant
Ideal Bar & Grill (Boston), Santa Cruz

Most Tasted Corporate
Good Samaritan, San Jose

Most Tasted Overall
Good Samaritan (Boston), San Jose
Ideal Bar & Grill (Boston), Santa Cruz
Carmona’s BBQ Catering (Boston), Watsonville

People’s Choice
Carmona’s BBQ Catering – Boston

Sal DiNapoli Special Spirit Award
Ceil Cirillo
Donaven Staab

Thank you all for participating and we hope to see you again next year!


Admission is free; visitors may purchase tasting kits ($7) to sample the clammy concoctions. Cooking starts at 10am.

Public tasting begins at 1:00pm. Winners announced at 3:30pm.

For more information please contact the Chowder Committee: 831-420-5273.

The Cook Off is an important fund-raiser for the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department. (Last year more than $30,000.00 was raised.)

Sponsored by the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Metro Newspapers, Continental Airlines, Comcast, KWAV, Severino’s Grill, Berkeley Farms, and Crystal Springs.

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