Beach Haven Chowder Cook-Off: The Tastiest Event of Fall in New Jersey

The Beach Haven Chamber of Commerce invites you to the annual Chowder Festival in Beach Haven. This popular culinary event brings together local restaurants and chowder lovers for tastings, entertainment, and community fun in the Queen City.

The Beach Haven Chowder Cook-off is more than just a food festival, it's a fun event that celebrates local cuisine, supports community businesses and showcases a variety of chowder recipes.

Key Event Details

The festival unfolds over the weekend, offering different formats for visitors:

Dates: October 4 and 5.

Location: Taylor Ave, behind Bay Village in Beach Haven, New Jersey.

Admission: Saturday offers free entry, while Sunday is a ticketed event dedicated to the main tasting competition.

The main part of the holiday will be a chowder-making competition, in which local restaurants will take part.

Participants will be divided into 2 categories:

White Chowder: This category features creamy New England-style chowder with tender clams and smooth cream. The participating restaurants in this category are

The Chicken or the Egg is a local legend on Long Beach Island (LBI), famous for its American comfort food - especially signature chicken wings and all-day breakfasts served late into the night. As part of the Chowder Cook-off, they compete with their signature chowder recipe in the White Chowder category. Visitors can expect a chowder that isn’t strictly traditional but carries the restaurant’s distinctive flavor profile, setting it apart from classic seaside recipes.

Country Kettle Chowda is a specialty boutique eatery and one of the strongest contenders in the competition. Unlike most participating restaurants, Country Kettle Chowda focuses exclusively on chowders, ensuring top-quality broth and adherence to traditional cooking methods. At the festival, they’ll showcase their expertise with a classic, perfectly balanced White Chowder recipe.

Dolce Liberta, known for its Italian pastries and desserts, is one of the most unexpected wild cards in the competition. The bakery has decided to challenge the specialized chowder spots by entering its recipe in the White Chowder category. Since chowder is not part of their usual repertoire, visitors can expect a creative, perhaps experimental twist on the classic creamy soup. It’s a great chance to taste how the culinary artistry of a non-traditional participant can transform a beloved dish.

Element Restaurant & Bar, located in nearby Stafford, specializes in modern American cuisine. Their approach emphasizes complex, seasonal ingredients and refined culinary techniques typical of fine dining. Their chowder is with a deep, multi-layered flavor profile, setting it apart from the more traditional festival recipes.

Isola Italian Trattoria, a restaurant specializing in Italian cuisine, is bringing a Mediterranean twist to the chowder competition. Their approach is likely to highlight the flavors typical of their trattoria-style dishes. Expect a chowder accented with fresh herbs (such as basil or oregano), olive oil, and possibly a lighter broth. It’s a fascinating Italian take on a classic American seafood soup.

Mud City Crab House is one of the fiercest competitors in the contest. Known for crafting dishes from freshly caught Jersey Shore seafood, their chowder showcases the superiority of top-quality ingredients. Their recipe is likely to be classic and reliable, designed to highlight the natural flavor of the ocean rather than mask it with heavy spices.

Red Chowder: This category will include chowder made from tomato base with clams, vegetables, and a blend of spices. Local restaurants competing in this category include:

Buckalew's Restaurant & Tavern is a year-round cornerstone of Beach Haven, known for its dark wooden interior and the atmosphere of an old coastal outpost. At the competition, Buckalew's presents a chowder that stands in contrast to refined dining. Expect a hearty, “boat-style” chowder, made to warm and satisfy. The flavor will likely be boldly peppery, with a noticeable emphasis on richness and a meaty base rather than just clams.

La Bamba is a Mexican restaurant in the center of Beach Haven. The place is known for its classic dishes based on corn, rice, beans, meat, and seafood. At the Chowder Festival, they are offering a version of chowder with Mexican accents - with spices, peppers, and a rich flavor. It is one of the few participants serving a dish with a Latin American touch.

Lefty's Tavern is known for its burgers and steaks and is a non-seafood participant in the competition, bringing its signature tavern-style approach. This means their chowder won’t be a light seafood classic. Expect an extremely rich base, likely enhanced with a robust meat or vegetable broth, and a generously seasoned tomato component.

Lighthouse Deli LBI is a classic deli and specialty grocery, rather than a traditional seafood restaurant. Their participation in the competition means their chowder may have a rich meat base. Expect them to use their expertise with smoked meats or bacon to create a complex, savory flavor profile. This will be a chowder with serious, hearty depth, setting it apart from lighter, seafood-focused recipes.

Panzone's Pizza & Pasta, known for its pizza and pasta, brings to the competition its “red sauce” philosophy. Unlike light seafood broths, Panzone's will deliver a chowder with Italian roots. Expect an extremely thick, “spoon-clinging” texture, where the flavors of tomatoes, garlic, and oregano boldly dominate over the clams. This will be the sweetest and spiciest chowder in the contest, creating a sharp contrast with traditional seafood fare.

Wally's is an iconic takeout diner, especially popular among late-night visitors to LBI. At the competition, Wally's presents a chowder made with a “fast but intense” approach. Expect a chowder with a spicy, piquant flavor (possibly featuring cayenne pepper or hot sauce).

Photo Credit: google.com

The festival is a great family getaway, offering much more than just tasting:

Atmosphere: Guests can enjoy live music and a craft fair featuring handmade goods and souvenirs.

For Kids: Special activities and entertainment are organized for young visitors.

Community: Attending this event directly supports the local economy. All proceeds go toward community initiatives and projects run by the Chamber of Commerce.

Photo Credit: facebook.com/BHChowderCookOff/

Photo Credit: google.com

The Beach Haven Chowder Cook-off is the perfect opportunity to spend a fall weekend on the Jersey Shore, soak up the excitement of a culinary competition, and, of course, enjoy some of the finest seafood the Jersey coastline has to offer!