Despite the rain, crowds lined up along City Island Avenue leading to Hawkins Park to taste and vote in this year’s City Island Chamber of Commerce Clam Chowder Contest on Sunday, September 20. After the votes were counted, the winners were announced ~ and our congratulations to:
New England Clam Chowder
1st Place: Sea Shore Restaurant (591 City Island Avenue, Bronx, NY)
2nd Place: Johnny’s Reef Restaurant (2 City Island Avenue, Bronx, NY)
Manhattan Clam Chowder
1st Place: City Island Diner (304 City Island Avenue, Bronx, NY)
2nd Place: Sammy’s Fish Box (41 City Island Avenue, Bronx, NY)
Accepting accolades for their wins from Chamber Board member Maria Caruso at Hawkins Park were (left to right in photo above): Sam Vera (Johnny’s Reef Restaurant), Joe Valenti (Sammy’s Fish Box / Sea Shore Restaurant), Maria Caruso (City Island Chamber Board), Luis Pastor (City Island Diner), and John Karikas (Johnny’s Reef Restaurant).
This year’s participating restaurants also included: City Island Lobster House (691 Bridge Street, Bronx, NY), Crab Shanty (361 City Island Avenue, Bronx, NY), Tony’s Pier Restaurant (1 City Island Avenue, Bronx, NY), and the Harlem Yacht Club (417 Hunter Avenue, Bronx, NY).
Shout out to our volunteers who served up delicious clam chowder all afternoon, to local businesses who provided additional supplies (Lickety Split Ice Cream, Clipper Coffee, and 2 PaiZans), to the American Legion Post 156 who gave us a tent to use, and to Anne Booth and her husband Kwon (Anne Booth Catering at the Harlem Yacht Club) for providing chafing dishes, sterno, a tent, and lots of supplies for the event plus delivering and picking it all up.
Most of all thanks to the wonderful restaurant Chamber members who provided the perfect food for a rainy afternoon ~ or any afternoon! ~ clam chowder, and who offer us the best every day!
