Food & Home Magazine’s 3rd Annual Chowder Fest charity cook-off to benefit the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara was held at the Montecito Country Club, and was a festive afternoon of tasting the delicious chowder presented by local chefs, and sipping fine wines from area wine makers and breweries. The eighteen uniquely different chowder preparations presented a serious challenge to top chowder judge Iron Chef Cat Cora.
Competing restaurant chefs included Aldo’s Restaurant, Aloha Charlie Fish Company, Arch Rock Fish, The Bay Roadhouse, BoatHouse at Hendry Beach (2011 Winner), Fortun Foods, Inc, Four Seasons Hotel, Holdren’s Steak & Seafood, Marmalade Café, Max’s Restaurant, Montecito Country Club, Museum Café, New West Catering, Olio E Limone Ristoriante, Palace Grill, Scarlett Begonia, The UCSB Faculty Club, world Cuisine Express, and sweet endings and food accoutrements’ were provided by Via Maestra 42 Ristorante, Matlija Water, Cabot Creamery, Chocolates des Cal Bressan, Green Clover Creations, Luna Oliveo, and Wesminster Crackers.
Wineries pouring included Brander Wines, Geissinger Winery, Kalyra Winery, Lucas & Lewellen, Qupe and Verdad Wines, Seawood Winery, Silver Wines, Stolpman Wines, Witchcraft Winery and breweries included TheBrewhouse, Eureka!, Figueroa Mountain Brewery, Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Island Brewing Company and Pacific Beverage.
The highlight of this event was a drawing for a collection of 52 wines, and it was a big ticket seller for the charity. The annual silent auction also provided a bevy of beautiful gift items to bid on, and a delicious time was had by all. For additional information or donations www.lafsbc.org.
By Bonnie Carroll
www.lifebitesnews.com
writebc@aol.com