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The Greenport Chowder Festival is back. (Northforker file photo)

Greenport’s chowder pot may have been empty since 2014, but it will overflow once again on Saturday, October 12 with the happy return of the once-annual Greenport Chowder Fest, pitting local chefs and restaurants against each other to see who can create the most spectacular version of the storied soup.

The event — a simmering but friendly competition for the best East End chowder — is a collaboration between the East End Seaport Museum and Port Waterfront Bar & Grill (104 3rd St., Greenport, 631-333-2501), the restaurant that some of you may well remember was once fittingly known as the Chowder Pot Pub.

Competitors include Claudio’s, Ellen’s on Front, Halyard, Lucharitos, Noah’s, First and South, Greenport Harbor Brewing Company and, of course, Port, the host of the day’s soupy smackdown. Each are allowed a sky’s-the-limit interpretation in their entries, from classic clam to seafood to oyster to vegetarian versions (we have it on good authority Lucharitos is finagling a Mexican street corn-chowder that’s we’ll be lining up for).

The popular soup-centric contest was once part of the East End Museum’s Maritime Festival, and local chefs would engage in a good natured tussle for who made the best New England and Manhattan versions. However, the chowder facet of fun was put on hold in 2013, briefly exhumed the year after, and then once again went on hiatus for five long years. It was re-introduced for 2019, but then came the COVID-19 pandemic — and the festival clammed up once again.

Past Chowder Festivals were known to draw sell-out crowds. (Photo credit: Cyndi Zaweski)

“It’s been a number of years since we did it, and it’s been a void. People beg for the chowder competition all the time and ask us to bring it back,” says Tracey Orlando, executive director of the East End Seaport Museum. “I went down to Port for a Coke and a conversation about things to do that can support the Museum and the community with [director of hospitality] Jonathan Cepelak, and he asked me the question: If I could do anything, what would I like to do for the Museum?”

Orlando’s answer: Bring back chowder festival. It was all Cepelak needed to hear. Once he got the green light from Port and Salt owners Keith and Ali Bavaro, plans quickly took shape to bring the contest back to life.

This year, there will be an official panel of judges selecting the top chowder winner — among them, Mario Corrado Jr., general manager of the Menhaden, and owners of Greenport’s former Fortino’s Tavern, chef Mike Fortino and his wife, Nikki Fortino — awarding the prize for best all-around chowder. Attendees, too, will be able to weigh in on their faves and give a People’s Choice award as well. The winner’s name will be etched into a three-foot trophy, which will also be used to engrave the names of future winners in years to come, and displayed at the Maritime Museum.

“Basically, as a community, in Greenport we always try to support each other,” says Cepelak. “This is really more about raising money for the museum, preserving the culture of Greenport and our maritime past and future, and sustain our life on the water here.”

Ticket can be purchased in advance for $25 here, or for $35 day-of, and include one beer, wine or soft drink of your choice along with 2 oz servings of each chowder (yes, you can go back for seconds). There will also be a 50/50 raffle, tickets for which may be purchased at the event. To be admitted, pick up your festival bracelet starting at 11:30 a.m., October 12, at the East End Seaport Museum, 100 Third St., right next to the North Ferry. All proceeds benefit the East End Seaport Museum and Marine Foundation. See you there!

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