2025 Date: TBD
Home › Clam Chowder Cook-Off
2-Day Event—Rain or Shine
Amateur chefs will compete on Saturday, followed by professional chefs on Sunday.
Join the delicious festivities as amateur and professional chefs prepare their finest clam chowder recipes along the Boardwalk.
Teams compete in the friendly competition, hoping to win prizes and bragging rights for BEST CLAM CHOWDER in the country’s largest and longest-running clam chowder competition!
Thank you for participating in this year’s Cook-Off! With your help, the event raised much-needed funds for The City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department.
2-Day Event—Rain or Shine
Amateur chefs will compete on Saturday, followed by professional chefs on Sunday.
Join the delicious festivities as amateur and professional chefs prepare their finest clam chowder recipes along the Boardwalk.
Teams compete in the friendly competition, hoping to win prizes and bragging rights for BEST CLAM CHOWDER in the country’s largest and longest-running clam chowder competition!
Try Some Clam Chowder!
The Boardwalk admission is free! Just purchase a Tasting Kit to sample the clammy concoctions.
Tasting Kits are $15 and include 6 taste tickets, spoon, cup, and a People’s Choice ballot.
Come Early! Supplies are limited.
100% of Tasting Kit sales benefit Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation.
Enter a Team!
The competition features four categories.
Competing Saturday
- Amateur Boston
- Amateur Manhattan
Competing Sunday
- Professional Boston
- Professional Manhattan
Awards will be given for Best Clam Chowder in each category, plus People’s Choice, Most Tasted, and Best Theme.
Awards include plaques, cash prizes and bragging rights!
Registration deadline: Feb. 19, 2024
Register by Feb. 12, 2024 to get two event t-shirts & two Boardwalk Ride Wristbands included.
Check Back soon for team registration.
Cook-Off Schedule
Saturday, February 24, 2024 • Amateur Teams
- 10am Tasting Kits go on sale
- 10am-11am Preparation period (no heat)
- 11am-1pm Cooking period
- 1pm Public tasting begins
- 4pm Amateur Division winners announced at the Pirate Ship Stage
Sunday, February 25, 2024 • Professional Teams
- 10am Tasting Kits go on sale
- 10am-11am Preparation period (no heat)
- 11am-1pm Cooking period
- 1pm Public tasting begins
- 4pm Professional Division winners announced at the Pirate Ship Stage
Amateur Competition Results – Saturday, February 24, 2024
Best Boston
- Rocky Horror Clam Show
- Pete’s Clamtastic
- 831 Fam
Best Manhattan
- Big C’s
- Clam Halen
- Grateful Clams
People’s Choice Winner
Boston
4 Men & A Clam
People’s Choice Winner
Manhattan
- 4 Men and a Clam
Most Tasted
- 4 Men & A Clam
- The Silence of the Clams
- Bloody Brilliant Chowder
Best Theming
- Clamstock
- The Silence of the Clams
- The Clams Department
Professional Competition Results – Sunday, February 25, 2024
Best Boston
- Seascape Golf Course
- Latin Asian Fusion Kitchen
- Jack O’Neill Restaurant/Dream Inn
Best Manhattan
- Coasties Clam Chowder
- Redwood Sluggers (UCSC Dining)
- Dominican Oaks
People’s Choice Winner
Boston
- Ideal Bar & Grill
People’s Choice Winner
Manhattan
- Redwood Sluggers (UCSC Dining)
Most Tasted
- Ideal Bar & Grill
- Jack O’Neill Restaurant/Dream Inn
- Chowder Slugs (UCSC Dining)
Best Theming
- Jack O’Neill Restaurant/Dream Inn
- Kick-Butt Chowder
- Seascape Golf Course