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Great Chowder Cook-Off Announces Ultimate Chowdah Fan Recipe Contest Presented By Rhody Fresh And New England Dairy

April 29, 2014 – Calling all Chowder Lovers!  The 33rd Annual Polar Seltzer Great Chowder Cook-Off, to take place on Saturday, June 7th from noon to 6:00 p.m. at the Newport Yachting Center, announces that the 1st Annual Ultimate Chowdah Fan Recipe Contest presented by Rhody Fresh and New England Dairy will begin accepting recipe submissions this coming Thursday, May 1st with a deadline of Friday, May 23rd.  Chowdah fans can verify how well their taste palates know the classic New England favorite by visiting the Newport Waterfront Events Facebook page at facebook.com/waterfrontevents and submitting that special recipe.  No Great Chowder Cook-Off ticket purchase is necessary. The only requirement is that the recipe includes a key ingredient, Rhody Fresh Milk!  The winning recipe will be replicated by Chef Tim on the Stop & Shop Culinary Stage at the event!  In addition, the winner will receive two free admission tickets to the Great Chowder Cook-Off and a Rhody Fresh gift basket.  Lastly, the winning recipe will be featured on the Newport Waterfront Events’ website along with the winner’s Facebook photo on Tuesday, June 3rd.

The organizers of the Great Chowder Cook-Off will determine the top three recipes and then Newport Waterfront Events Facebook fans will have the opportunity to vote for the Ultimate Chowdah Fan Recipe Contest winner from Tuesday, May 27th through Monday, June 2nd.  And, just to get things stirring a little early, the winner will be announced on Tuesday, June 3rd just days before the ultimate chowder competition – the Great Chowder Cook-Off!

The Great Chowder Cook-Off features all-you-can-eat "chowda" from the nation's best chefs who serve samples of their sumptuous creations to the thousands of chowder loving festival attendees who also act as judges.  Chefs compete for the coveted titles of "Best Clam," "Best Seafood," and "Best Creative" chowder with prize money being awarded to the top three winners in each category, including $2,000 each for the first-place winners.

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But it is not all about the “Chowda”.  Back by popular demand, the “Clam Cake Chow-Down” eating contest, the Stop & Shop Culinary stage featuring culinary demonstrations, multiple stages of live music, the Amica Family Fun Area and captivating kidSTOPs will be featured throughout the day.  Polar Seltzer also invites you to pull up an Adirondack chair in the Polar Lounge, where guests can enjoy samples of their Limited Edition Summer Seltzers and learn what has made Polar a New England favorite for over 130 years.  Kids can create their very own Polar label and meet their Polar Bear mascot, Orson, at the Polar Seltzer kidSTOP.

Also that day and evening, the new Newport Oyster Festival will only be a cherrystone’s throw away just outside the gates at the Newport Yachting Center.  The best of local shellfish and seafood is presented farmers’ market style by Matunuck Oyster Farm and paired with beer, wine, spirits and live music.  The Festival continues into the evening making it a great after-party following the Great Chowder Cook-Off awards ceremony.

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The Polar Seltzer Great Chowder Cook-Off is offering a Spring Discount Ticket Price of $15 through May 1st, at which point an advance price of $20 is good through Friday, June 6th with the Saturday, June 7th day-of event ticket costing $25.  All tickets include complimentary admittance to the Newport Oyster Festival.  Children are admitted free if under the age of 12 and accompanied by a paid adult.

To purchase tickets, please visit newportwaterfrontevents.com or order by phone by calling 800-745-3000.  Tickets can also be purchased as walk ups seven days a week at the Newport Yachting Center Box Office on 4 Commercial Wharf (on America’s Cup Avenue) in downtown Newport (starting on May 1st).  For more information, please visit newportwaterfrontevents.com or contact the Newport Yachting Center at (401) 846-1600.

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