I’ve been to three chowder contests in the past week eight days. And while I’m partial to my hometown North Fork contest at the annual Maritime Festival, I have to say Southampton’s SeptemberFest‘s was pretty great. This was its second year. I went last year, but the contest was already over. This year I showed up at 1:30 p.m. (the contest started at noon) and there were only five chowders left out of 12 entered. What made this contest great was 1) The entry fee of $5 gets you a mug, which you use to try the chowders. This eliminates all the little plastic cups that wind up in the garbage; however, it blows a hole in portion control, which may be why some entries ran out so fast, 2) the chowders were all tasted blind, each labeled with only a number.

The winners are: First place, Lobster Grille; 2nd place, Golden Pear; 3rd place, Southampton Social Club.

All the entrants were: #1-Lobster Grille; #2-Golden Pear; #3-SH Social Club; #4-Boa Thai Asian Fusion; #5-Shippy’s; #6-Golden Pear (red); #7-Bay Burger; #8-Seasons; #9-Soul Food; #10-NA; #11-Paul’s; #12-Frutti DiMare. 

The Lobster Grille is the new name for the Lobster Inn; the owners also run 230 Elm.