Voted the World’s Best Seaside Park

2025 Date: TBD

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!

Thank you for participating in this year’s Cook-Off! With your help, the event raised much-needed funds for The City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department.

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 $15 and include 6 taste tickets, spoon, cup, and a People’s Choice ballot.

Come Early! Supplies are limited.

100% of Tasting Kit sales benefit Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation.

People eating chowder

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!

Registration deadline: Feb. 19, 2024
Register by Feb. 12, 2024 to get two event t-shirts & two Boardwalk Ride Wristbands included.

Check Back soon for team registration.

Team cooking chowder and smiling

Cook-Off Schedule

Saturday, February 24, 2024 • 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 Pirate Ship Stage

Sunday, February 25, 2024 • 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 Pirate Ship Stage

Amateur Competition Results – Saturday, February 24, 2024

Best Boston

  1. Rocky Horror Clam Show
  2. Pete’s Clamtastic
  3. 831 Fam

Best Manhattan

  1. Big C’s
  2. Clam Halen
  3. Grateful Clams

People’s Choice Winner

Boston
  1. 4 Men & A Clam

People’s Choice Winner

Manhattan
  1. 4 Men and a Clam

Most Tasted 

  1. 4 Men & A Clam
  2. The Silence of the Clams
  3. Bloody Brilliant Chowder

Best Theming 

  1. Clamstock
  2. The Silence of the Clams
  3. The Clams Department

Professional Competition Results – Sunday, February 25, 2024

Best Boston 

  1. Seascape Golf Course
  2. Latin Asian Fusion Kitchen
  3. Jack O’Neill Restaurant/Dream Inn

Best Manhattan 

  1. Coasties Clam Chowder
  2. Redwood Sluggers (UCSC Dining)
  3. Dominican Oaks

People’s Choice Winner

Boston
  1.  Ideal Bar & Grill

People’s Choice Winner

Manhattan
  1. Redwood Sluggers (UCSC Dining)

Most Tasted

  1. Ideal Bar & Grill
  2. Jack O’Neill Restaurant/Dream Inn
  3. Chowder Slugs (UCSC Dining)

Best Theming 

  1. Jack O’Neill Restaurant/Dream Inn
  2. Kick-Butt Chowder
  3. Seascape Golf Course

The Clam Chowder Cook-Off is an important fundraiser for the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department. Last year, more than $90,000.00 was raised! 

Thank You to our Clam Chowder Cook-Off Sponsors

KMBY

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