Saturday & Sunday,
February 25 – 26, 2023
2-Day Event—Rain or Shine
Amateur chefs will compete on Saturday, followed by professional chefs on Sunday.
Join the delicious festivities as amateur and professional chefs prepare their finest clam chowder recipes along the Boardwalk.
Teams compete in the friendly competition, hoping to win prizes and bragging rights for BEST CLAM CHOWDER in the country’s largest and longest-running clam chowder competition!
2-Day Event—Rain or Shine
Amateur chefs will compete on Saturday, followed by professional chefs on Sunday.
Join the delicious festivities as amateur and professional chefs prepare their finest clam chowder recipes along the Boardwalk. Teams compete in the friendly competition, hoping to win prizes and bragging rights for BEST CLAM CHOWDER in the country’s largest and longest-running clam chowder competition!Try Some Clam Chowder!
The Boardwalk admission is free! Just purchase a Tasting Kit to sample the clammy concoctions.
Tasting Kits are $12 and include 6 taste tickets, spoon, cup, and a People’s Choice ballot.
Come Early! Supplies are limited.
100% of Tasting Kit sales & Team Registrations benefit Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation.
Pre-purchase your tasting kits & merchandise!
Enter a Team!
The competition features four categories.
Competing Saturday
- Amateur Boston
- Amateur Manhattan
Competing Sunday
- Professional Boston
- Professional Manhattan
Awards will be given for Best Clam Chowder in each category, plus People’s Choice, Most Tasted, and Best Theme.
Awards include plaques, cash prizes and bragging rights!
Early Bird Registration Deadline: Fri., Feb. 3, 2023
Includes: 2 Rides Wristbands and 2 team T-shirts
Final Deadline: Fri., February 10, 2023
For more information please contact Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation- Chowder Committee: (831) 420-5273.
Cook-Off Schedule
Saturday, February 25, 2023 • Amateur Teams
- 10am Tasting Kits go on sale
- 10am-11am Preparation period (no heat)
- 11am-1pm Cooking period
- 1pm Public tasting begins
- 4pm Amateur Division winners announced at the Neptune’s Stage (near Pirate Ship)
Sunday, February 26, 2023 • Professional Teams
- 10am Tasting Kits go on sale
- 10am-11am Preparation period (no heat)
- 11am-1pm Cooking period
- 1pm Public tasting begins
- 4pm Professional Division winners announced at the Neptunes’ Stage (near Pirate Ship)
Amateur Competition Results – Saturday, February 26, 2022
Best Boston
- Rocky Horror Clam Show, Jill Goodwin
- Yogi’s Island Ways, Joel Leonin
- Santa Cruz Clammunity Credit Union, Ed Cross
Best Manhattan
- DragonMama’s Portuguese Red, Michele Hartmangruber
- Santa Cruz Clammunity Credit Union, Ed Cross
- 4 Men & A Clam, Wayne Locke
People’s Choice Winners
Boston
- Rocky Horror Clam Show, Jill Goodwin
People’s Choice Winners
Manhattan
- 4 Men & A Clam, Wayne Locke
Most Tasted
- 4 Men & A Clam, Wayne Locke
- Rocky Horror Clam Show, Jill Goodwin
- Silence of the Clams, Brian Edwards
Best Booth Theming
- Silence of the Clams, Brian Edwards
- Muschel Men, Eric Forsberg
- 4 Men & A Clam, Wayne Locke
Professional Competition Results – Sunday, February 27, 2022
Best Boston
- Clamdestine, Andrew Lott
- East Side Eatery, Derek Rupp
- Ideal Bar & Grill
Best Manhattan
- Midgley’s Public House, Michael Midgley Jr.
- East Side Eatery, Derek Rupp
People’s Choice Winner (Professional)
Boston
- Ideal Bar & Grill
People’s Choice Winners (Professional)
Manhattan
East Side Eatery, Derek Rupp
Most Tasted
- Latin Asian Fusion Kitchen, Roddy Diaz
- Ideal Bar & Grill
- The Harbor Restaurant- Santa Barbara, Marcelo Valdez
Best Booth Theming
- Jack O’Neill Restaurant & Lounge, Gus Trejo
- California Inspirations, Margie Galvan
- Coasties Clam Chowder, Kendra Garza
The Clam Chowder Cook-Off is an important fundraiser for the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department. Last year, more than $80,000.00 was raised!
Thank You to our Clam Chowder Cook-Off Sponsors
