Thousands of chowder fanatics flooded the city streets to attend and take part in the 13th Annual Chowderfest, on Sunday, Oct. 13. There were plenty of long lines where hungry attendees waited patiently to sample vegetarian and non-vegetarian chowder from twelve local competitors who were competing in this year’s festival.
Participating in this year’s event included Bard & Baker, Barn & Bistro, Bootlegger’s Bar & Grill, Bountiful Bread, Boys & Girls Club of the Capital Area, Brown’s Brewing Company, Dinosaur BBQ Troy, Hudson-Chatham Winery, McAddy’s Pub, Muddaddy Flats, Plumb Restaurant & Bar, Rare Form Brewing Company, The Ruck, Ryan’s Wake, SCCC Food Truck/Troy Innovation Garage, Slidin’ Dirty, and Tara’s Kitchen Troy location.
This year’s winners of Chowderfest include Tara’s Kitchen (1st place. Judge’s vote for Casablanca Chowder), Schenectady County Community College Food Truck (2nd Place, Judge’s vote for sweet potato & corn chowder with a shrimp and corn fritter), and The Ruck (3rd Place, Judge’s vote for Coconut gochujang sweet potato chowder). Best vegetarian and most original chowder went to The Ruck, best seafood went to Tara’s Kitchen, best booth went to Bootlegger’s on Broadway, and the People’s Choice also went to Bootlegger’s on Broadway for their lobster roasted corn chowder with cornbread crouton.
There was something fun to do for everyone. Visitors could listen to live music at Monument Square from Pony in the Pancake, The Age, Hartley’s Encore, Deb Cavanaugh and Tabitha Cavanaugh, and from RadioRadioX. Children took part in a train ride through River Street and First Street, face painting, made balloon art, played board games at the Bard and Baker booth, and painted pumpkins at the Bash Birthday Parties booth on Broadway.
Photos by Amy Modesti / Special to The Spot 518
