12th Annual Chili Chowder Fest

The 12th Annual Chili Chowder Fest was a HUGE SUCCESS! The annual fundraiser for the Bath Youth Meetinghouse and Skatepark was not only a financial success, allowing Friends of the BYMSP to help finance programs at The Park for the coming year, but it was a terrific day of fun.

A big, big thanks to ALL the participating restaurants, our sponsors, and the culinary experts at our Judge’s Table (see Venue/Event page for more details on all), and to the VOTING PUBLIC for participating and voting. It seemed like everyone had more than a good time! Thank you for supporting this wonderful community event, and the Bath Youth Meetinghouse and Skatepark!

Now, on to the WINNERS!

Congratulations to the KENNEBEC TAVERN, for a trifecta win! The Kennebec Tavern took JUDGE’S CHOICE for Best Chili, Best Chowder, and it also won the PEOPLE’s CHOICE award for Best Chowder! WOW. That is a record!

And a super hearty contratulations to JIMBO’S DINER for their FIFTH win of the PEOPLE’s CHOICE award for Best Chili!
Now Jimbo can get that addition to his tattoo collection he’s been dreaming of!

Last, but not least, in the safety department competition for BEST CHILI (Woolwich Fire, Bath Fire, Bath PD and Sagadahoc Sheriff), congratulations to the Bath Police Dept. for winning the People’s Choice while Bath Fire Dept. won the Judge’s Table award. If you tasted Sagadahoc Sheriff’s GHOST CHILI and lived to tell about it, well, you are made of sturdy stuff!

JUDGE’S CHOICE

Best Chili: Kennebec Tavern

Best Chowder: Kennebec Tavern

Best Chili (Safety Division): Bath Fire Dept.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE

Best Chili: Jimbo’s Diner

Best Chowder: Kennebec Tavern

Best Chili (Safety Division): Bath Police Dept.

Congratulations to the KENNEBEC TAVERN, for a trifecta win! The Kennebec Tavern took JUDGE’S CHOICE for Best Chili, Best Chowder, and it also won the PEOPLE’s CHOICE award for Best Chowder! WOW. That is a record!

And a super hearty congratulations to JIMBO’S DINER for their FIFTH win of the PEOPLE’s CHOICE award for Best Chili!
Now Jimbo can get that addition to his tattoo collection he’s been dreaming of!

Last, but not least, in the safety department competition for BEST CHILI (Woolwich Fire, Bath Fire, Bath PD and Sagadahoc Sheriff), congratulations to the Bath Police Dept. for winning the People’s Choice while Bath Fire Dept. won the Judge’s Table award. If you tasted Sagadahoc Sheriff’s GHOST CHILI and lived to tell about it, well, you are made of sturdy stuff!

 

For the first time, the Chili Chowder Fest featured culinary experts on a “Judge’s Panel,” who rated the food rate on various criteria such as flavor and originality. The guest judges were:

Robert “Bobby” Magda, current chef of Grill 233 in Yarmouth Maine. The 2001 SMCC graduate in culinary arts/ hotel restaurant management is former chef owner of Back Street Bistro & Lilee’s Public House. Featured in DownEast magazine twice.

Laura McCandlish is a freelance food writer and radio producer who writes the weekly “The Farm-to-Table Family” column in the new SOURCE section of the Maine Sunday Telegram. She’s written regularly for Modern Farmer, NPR’s Kitchen Window column and co-hosted/produced two public radio food shows in Oregon.

Christine Burns Rudalevige, a classically trained chef, food writer, recipe developer and tester and cooking instructor. Her work has appeared in publications throughout the Northeast, in national publications such as Cooking Light and Fine Cooking, and online outlets including NPR.org’s The Salt, Whole Foods Market’s cooking site, Food52, and Zester Daily.

Watch for more photos and details of the day here. It was a grand success!

RESTAURANTS – Thank You Again for being part of Chili Chowder Fest 2014

Brunswick Hotel & Tavern * Byrne’s Irish Pub * Fiona’s Restaurant & Catering * The Grille at Bath Golf Club * Jimbo’s Diner * JR Maxwell’s * Kennebec Tavern * Mae’s Cafe * Mateo’s Hacienda * Montsweag Roadhouse  * Sebasco Harbor Resort *  Solo Bistro

OUR ONLINE DRAWING:

$25 Gift Certificate for Beale Street BBQ!	Now You’re Cooking: Bacon Gift Set, Cook Book Bacon Nation and a Bacon press
Now You’re Cooking: Olive Oil & Salad Dressing Carafe	Now You’re Cooking: Spherical Ice Molds & Cocktail multi-tool
$20 Gift Certificate to Shutty’s Seafood

All Proceeds Benefit The Park!

 

A Heartfelt Thank You to our 2014 Sponsors:

 

THREE PEPPER SPONSORS:

TWO PEPPER SPONSORS:

Bill’s Garage * Coastal Glass * Custom Home Theater * First Federal Savings * Five County Credit Union

ONE PEPPER SPONSORS:

Amy Kerr Instructional Design * Bath Animal Hospital * Bath Cycle and Ski * Bath Natural Market * Bert’s Oil * Burgess Computer * Brian Cross Construction * Cahill Tire *  Dr. Coffin’s Garage * Hallmark Homes *  Mariner’s Compass Quilt Shop * New Meadows Auto * Quansigamog Hand Tub Assoc. * Reny’s * Seaside Web Design * Wilson’s Drug Store * Witch Spring Hill Ice Cream

We would also like to thank the following for their generous time, energy, ideas, hands, donated goods, and general largeness of spirit in helping the Chili Chowder Fest happen this year:

• The City of Bath
• Beale Street BBQ
• Borealis Breads
• Hair Creations
• Hannaford’s
• Henry & Marty Restaurant and Catering
• Now You’re Cooking
• P&P Screen Printers in Yarmouth
• PepsiCo
• Sagadahock Real Estate
• Schutty’s
• Shaw’s
• Wildflours Gluten Free Bakery
• Our VOLUNTEERS