ChowdaFest – What a Day!

Before we get too deep into the specifics of the chowder, we would like to talk about how much we enjoyed the day!

Chowder Lovers Unite!

We had a great day. ChowderBoy and I discussed our strategy early in the day and we made up ChowderFamily review ballots for ourselves (knowing that the official ballots would not hold all our thoughts). We made them based on our old ranking system and had columns for each person to rank the chowder. Big mistake. Or, rather, big waste of time! The whole ChowderFamily just ended up scribbling notes on napkins and the official ballots and on the backs of our homemade ones.

We arrived later than we intended. The original game plan had us there right as the doors opened so we could get a table and avoid the lines. We dawdled and ended up arriving around 11:30. But we got a table and settled in for a few hours of eating!

A few general comments:

• Overall, it was really wonderful. A lot of generally happy people, chatting and enjoying the day.
• The whole Patriots – Giants thing added an extra level of interest to the day. And people were really funny about it – not antagonistic, just fun.
• The way the lines form (or don’t form, as the case may be) is frustrating. Some folks are lined up and eating as they stand in line, sometimes leaving people standing in front of a booth, not eating, waiting for the next one. And then people have to try and dive through the line.
• We find it nearly impossible to eat every single chowder. We all felt sleepy and stuffed about 2/3 of the way through. I wish we didn’t scarf down so many so quickly!
• They have the Sacred Heart Band play – great idea! Next year, maybe they can play upstairs so it isn’t so loud. We could barely hear ourselves think to review the chowder!
• We saw so many people we know there. It was really neat to see so many people enjoying our very favorite food!

Chowda Chick!	Chef Quahog	Great Stuff!
Dubious	Apparently, thumbs down.	OMG. So full.
Cannot. Move.	Too Much Chowder	No, really, I'm fine!

We can’t wait until next year! But before we move on to the official reviews, we want to thank Jim Keenan for an awesome day! Next year, we want to help!

ChowdaFest 2012 in Westport, CT is COMING SOON!!!!

We are so excited for next weekend! It is going to be a crazy busy weekend but featuring one of our favorite local events.

ChowdaFest is being held at Bedford Middle School in Westport again this year. The first year we went, it was at the Unitarian Church in Westport and it was wonderful but a bit tight! Last year, they moved to the cafeteria and it was much better.

We’re happy to see it back in the middle school cafeteria this year. We plan on getting there bright and early so we can get situated and find. We’ll be tweeting our thoughts all day – follow along @chowderkids.

Looking over the list of the restaurants, we see a few favorites, a few places we’ve reviewed and panned, and a few new and exciting places.

Links to all of the restaurants, check em out!

Ash Creek Saloon   Boathouse at Saugatuck  Blue Lemon   Bobby Q’s   Brewhouse   Cactus Rose Cantina  Crab Shell  Da Pietros   Dunville’s  Ginger Man   Liquid Lunch   Los Cabos   Mansion Clam House Mystic Soup Co.   Nicholas Roberts  O’Neill’s   Old Post Tavern   River House   Restaurant at Rowayton   Rory’s  Southport Brewing Co.  Super Duper Weenie  Tavern on Main

Have you tried any of these places? Who do you think has the best chance at winning our hearts?

And what on earth is Super Duper Weenie doing on there? Scary.