Area chefs will once again be vying for Chowder Challenge champion and the bragging rights that go with it at this weekend’s annual Lund Shellfish Festival.
The challenge, which takes place 6-9 pm Friday, May 27, is the official kickoff for the festival, now in its ninth year, and will be a sellout, just as it has been every year, according to organizers.
The first, second and third place challengers are back, along with seven other competitors. Tla’amin Convenience Store’s Sli-City Grill returns to defend its championship title, along with last year’s second place Royal Zayka and Lund Hotel, which took third.
According to Heather Armstrong, a member of the festival committee and coordinator of the chowder challenge, she is not aware of anyone ever repeating as champion.
Erik Blaney, owner of Tla’amin Convenience Store, said just because he won last year he is not bragging that he will repeat.
“I’ve been trying a few new things over the last couple of weeks,” said Blaney. “I think that we’ll stick to the tried, tested and true chowder that we did last year.”
Armstrong said the challenge has become a phenomenon, with people coming from far and wide for the chowders.
“Last year, I was sitting at a table with two couples who said they came specifically for the chowder challenge,” said Armstrong. “I think one couple was from the United States and one came up by boat from Vancouver. It’s phenomenal.”
According to Ann Snow, the shellfish festival’s committee coordinator, the rules of the chowder challenge are simple. Each person gets a small sample of all 10 chowders from the 10 different challengers.
“They sample the chowders and vote for the one that they like the best,” said Snow. “The one chowder that wins the most votes gets a prize, publicity and bragging rights.”
After attendees have sampled the chowders, they get a full bowl, said Snow, along with salads, desserts and an oyster bar. There is also a silent auction and performances by local musicians.
Roy Blackwell, owner and chef at the Boardwalk Restaurant in Lund, has entered his chowder for the last five years, has never won and, according to him, is not crabby about it.
“I’ve been wildly experimental,” said Blackwell. “I did a chorizo and squid chowder a couple of years ago. I’ve put in oyster chowders, fish chowders, anything but your regular clam chowder because I make regular clam chowders every day. This is a challenge, so I’m challenging everybody else, too.”
For the second year, the challenge is a fundraiser for the North Side Volunteer Fire Department.
A limited amount of tickets are still available for $20 each at Sunlund-By-the-Sea Campground, the Lund Hotel, Boardwalk Restaurant and Tourism Powell River.
