Love Chowder? How About Beer? Chowdah Fest is a Perfect Fit!

By Anthony Todd in Food on Jan 20, 2011 5:40PM

2011 is the year of the first annual Chowdah Fest Chicago, brought to you by the creators of the Chicago Ice Cream Festival. We should admit up front that we aren't objective at all about this - we love chowder, and when chefs like Giuseppe Tentori are cooking it for us, we pretty much start swooning at the thought. At the event, inspired by a similar fest in Boston, nine different chefs and vendors will offer up their take on Chowder. Guests will get to sample all of them, as much as they want, while sipping on craft beers and wines. The event will take place on Monday, January 31 on board the 1910 ship of the Columbia Yacht Club, which should make it an experience not to be missed - the only thing better than eating tons of amazing chowder is eating it on a gorgeous boat.

In addition to Tentori, Calumet Fisheries (a friend of the site) will be there, as well as Daniel Marquis (of Fox and Obel) and Baasim Zafar (of The Drake). Benny's Chop House and Shaw's Crab House will be tossing their hats into the ring, and we are told a few more "surprise" chefs may show up for the actual event. If you get tired of eating salty chowder, there will be a dessert room as well. The entire evening will cost $75 per person, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Sea Scouts youth sailing program. There are only 225 tickets and they will sell out, so put it on your calendar right now.