Forage Chef Chris Whittaker Keeps Chowder Chowdown Crown For Second Year

Thirteen Ocean Wise chefs from across B.C. competed last night at Vancouver Aquarium presenting sustainable seafood chowders paired with beer to a sell-out crowd of 600 wooden spoon-waving soup-lovers. This is the sixth annual Chowder Chowdown and for the second year running, Forage's Chris Whittaker bagged judges' choice. His creamy B.C. Spot Prawn Chowder wowed the judges. Featuring bacon, white wine and thyme in a mushroom-based broth finished with smokey chicharon and poached egg, the chowder is available on the menu at Forage.

Chef Ned Bell of Yew at the Four Seasons scooped the People's Choice Award with the Big Red; an extra-creamy chowder with humpback shrimp, pink peppercorn cream garnished with sweet BC Cranberries, Okanagan apples and hazlenuts.

Best pairing of the night went to Pemberton's Chef Paul Cecconi of Brodo Kitchen and Catering with CodFathers Seafood Market for their Outlandish Mussel-Saffron Chowder with a savoury popcorn garnish paired with Red Racer ESB beer by Central City Brewers and Distillers.

· Ocean Wise [Official Site]
· Vancouver Aquarium [Official Site]
· Forage Restaurant [Official Site]
· All previous Chowder Challenge coverage [EVAN]