Chowderfest 2011 Winners!

Haverhill's Boston Chowda Company won in TWO CATEGORIES:
People's Choice 'Best Clam Chowder'
People's Choice 'Best Specialty Chowder' Lobster Bisque

pictured below: Tom Sullivan - V.P. Development - Winnekenni Foundation, Stephen Post - Owner / Management Boston Chowda Co., John Gariulo - Staff Boston Chowder Co. (is holding the plaques), Dino Trent Sr. - Staff Boston Chowder Co., Grace Marcoux - President - Winnekenni Foundation, (not shown:  Lindsy Lamattina - Staff - Boston Chowda Co)

Haverhill's The Peddler's Daughter won in ONE CATEGORY:
Judge's Choice 'Overall Best of Event' Bacon Clam Chowder

pictured below: Tom Sullivan - V.P. Development - Winnekenni Foundation, Jennifer Lightfoot - Manager - The Peddler's Daughter, Derrick Fauth - Staff Member - The Peddler's Daughter, Grace Marcoux - President - Winnekenni Foundation, (not shown:  Bobby Will - Chef - The Peddler's Daughter)

The Event:

Despite the cloudy and rainy day, an estimated 800+ people attended the afternoon-long 4th Annual Winnekenni Chowderfest on Sun. August 14th, 2011 at Winnekenni Castle, which was sponsored by Haverhill Bank, the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce and Olivia's/Kreuger Flatbread Restaurants and supported by outstanding volunteer staffing provided by the civic organizations Haverhill Exchange Club and Team Haverhill. Favorite New England musical entertainment by the The Itchy Feet Big Band and The B St. Bombers kept toes tapping and dancing barefoot on the Castle's lawn all day long! Festival Vendor & Participants included: L'Arche Irenicon and WIC with activity booths; Winnekenni Foundation with children's games and a Bouncy Castle, and bubble creations by Dr. Goose; and food, chowder and sampling was presented by Pick Your Poison Cakes, Keon's, Boston Chowda Co, The Peddler's Daughter, Scovotti's Catering and one anonymous Mystery Chef. The competition was fierce between the five chowders on the ballot for which the public could cast votes for their favorite Clam Chowder and favorite Specialty (non-clam) Chowder. People's Choice winners were Boston Chowda Co. for their Clam Chowder and also for their Lobster Bisque in the Specialty (non-clam) category. A panel of five mystery judges sampled all of the chowders during the competition and selected first time Winnekenni Chowderfest winner The Peddler's Daughter's Bacon Clam Chowder as the overall 'Best of Event'!

Now two-time favorites, in 2010 Boston Chowda Co. won Judges' Choice for their Clam Chowder and People's Choice for their Lobster Bisque at the Castle's annual summer festival. Three time People's Choice Clam Chowder Champions, Olivia's/ Krueger Flatbread Restaurants opted to step back from the competition this year and become a sponsor of the event to help ensure an open field of new and returnee competitors! The Castle's annual festival has become one of the community's signature events and its organizers plan to get even more of the community involved next summer with increased participation from local non-profits, civic and youth organizations, businesses, merchants, artisans, restaurants and caterers providing them all with an opportunity to showcase themselves, recruit, offer specials and promotions, provide information, demonstrations, highlight their accomplishments, wares and services alongside our community's (and region's) best culinary fare!