BEACH HAVEN – Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all of the Traveling tasters that visited and voted for the restaurants on the Chowder trail all September long. Traveling Tasters had until September 30 to vote for their favorites in the red, white and creative categories.
Competing Restaurants include: Red Soup Category – Country Kettle Chowda, Daddy O Restaurant & Bar, Dockside Diner; White Soup Category – Country Kettle Chowda, Russo’s Italian Restaurant, The Chicken or the Egg and Tuckers Tavern; Creative Soup Category features – Country Kettle Chowda, Delaware Avenue Oyster House, LaBamba Express and The Old Causeway. Some of the states that brought Tasters directly to restaurants were from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, California, Oklahoma, New Hampshire, Maryland and Delaware. Checking from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with heaviest traffic 5 to 8 p.m., with each day showing visits, Saturday outpaced the other days of the week. With over 1000 check ins overall, each restaurant saw dozens of new customers specifically for the chowder trail.
Due to weather conditions, the winners will now be announced October 15 during the free Chowderfest happening at Taylor Avenue Waterfront in Beach Haven from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For the first time in the event’s 34 year history, the organizers were able to move it to a new weekend instead of canceling due to storm conditions. The infrastructure of an event such as Chowderfest, continues to more towards a more resilient model. By implementing changes such as eliminating tickets sales and minimizing stress on burdened small businesses, we are hopeful to continue this tradition moving forward with partners and regional support. With weather, health and security risks all added to the planning of a large scale event, all details must be taken into consideration. Chowderfest Weekend had included two separate events the free Merchant Mart on Saturday and the ticketed Chowder Cook Off Classic on Sunday. Chowderfest has been now been coordinated into a one day event.
Chowderfest is celebrating its 34th year! Chowderfest is a fundraiser that has been organized by the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce since 1989 to provide funding for out-of-area marketing, ongoing business/nonprofit support programming, and scholarships.
It is planned and managed by volunteers of the business community through the Chamber Board and Chowderfest Committee. This event has never been produced as a for-profit venture, and operates to positively promote the region bringing off-season dollars to expand our local economy. Spanning over three decades, the festival continues to evolve to keep the mission of reaching new audiences, raising awareness of Long Beach Island, and bringing people together for the unofficial end of summer. To find out more visit chowderfest.com.
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