{"id":1865,"date":"2015-02-20T02:22:12","date_gmt":"2015-02-20T06:22:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/santacruzfoodie.com\/?p=1865"},"modified":"2015-02-20T02:22:12","modified_gmt":"2015-02-20T06:22:12","slug":"2015-santa-cruz-clam-chowder-cook-off-and-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/santacruzfoodie.com\/?p=1865","title":{"rendered":"2015 Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook-Off and Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"2015<\/a>

2015 Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook-Off<\/p><\/div>\n

This Saturday is the 34th annual Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook-Off and Festival at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.<\/p>\n

The Feb. 21, 2015 chowder cook-off <\/a>has free admission. If you want to eat chowder, tasting kits are $9 and include five samples plus a People\u2019s Choice ballot. The cook-off is a fund-raiser for the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department. In 2014, the event raised more than $62,000.<\/p>\n

Approximately 80 individuals and teams are participating, including teams from New Leaf Community Markets, Pleasure Pizza East Side Eatery, Solaire Restaurant & Bar, Seascape Resort, Ideal Bar and Grill, Parish Publick House, and Kauboi Grill and Sushi.<\/p>\n

The competition features two divisions:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Best Individual (Amateur) \u2013 with subcategories for both Manhattan & Boston varieties
\n\u2022 Best Professional \u2013 with subcategories for both Manhattan & Boston varieties<\/p>\n

Teams can choose to compete in one or both of the Manhattan & Boston categories. They are also in the running for prizes such as \u201cMost Original.\u201d Some participants dress in costumes such as mermaids and scuba divers.<\/p>\n

The 2014 winners included:<\/strong><\/p>\n