Official LBI Chowderfest Milestones and Memories

Remember and support our past Champions and competing restaurants listed in our Hall of Fame

The iconic LBI Chowderfest, traditionally consisted of Saturday Merchant Mart and Sunday Chowder Cook off was organized and presented by the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce for 34 years through a committee of volunteers to extend the summer season and to support the services provided to visitors and local businesses at no cost to taxpayers by the chamber.

The event began as a one-day event in 1989 and grew into a Chowderfest weekend tradition bestowing the coveted title of Grand Champion to generations of restaurant owners and chefs. The Southern Ocean Chamber leadership was committed to running this event through many adverse conditions which included post Super Storm Sandy Recover, Covid-19 Pandemic, and coastal storm postponements. It grew to as large as 19 competing restaurants with competitors from across NJ, other states and even internationally with a restaurant from Ireland. It also was highlighted by many talented masters of ceremonies that included culinary dignitaries’ food critic Ed Hitzel and Tony Luke Jr. It hosted entertainment from Deadliest Catch star, Shriners and costumed characters.

For several years the event featured a map where attendees can pin their location from where they traveled from showing international interest, it hosted a wedding ceremony and established popular chowder caddy contests. The Southern Ocean Chamber volunteers reached over 400, whose assignments were beer and food ticket sales, food tent service, restaurant support, line ambassadors and of course handing out the famous voting chips for submission after the day long tasting that lasted from 10am VIP to 5pm winner announcement for Grand Champion in Red, White and, later years, Creative soups. There were runner-up categories, rookie of the year, best booth as well as Chef Critics Choice Awards for a limited number of years.

In 2024, the Borough of Beach Haven was petitioned to give the established date and location to another group to make the event specifically Beach Haven business supported. For those that wish to view the April 8 2024 Borough of Beach Haven Council Meeting Video, it is available for screening on this site.

The Southern Ocean County Chamber’s Chowderfest proceeds significantly benefited the community for 34 years. This support spearheaded substantial reinvestments, generating millions of dollars in economic impact and regional grass root giving without placing any burden on the taxpayers

Including, but not limited to:

• Charitable Groups

• • Sponsored decades of fireworks, fundraisers, and parades
  • Donated funds to Southern Ocean Community Foundation and Local First Responders initiated Chowder for A Cause benefiting recipient David’s Dream and Believe
  • Funded Borough of Beach Haven Park and improvement projects

• Scholarships & Educational Support
  • Provided scholarships to students at Southern Regional High School, Barnegat High School, and Pinelands Regional High School.
  • Multiple culinary scholarships for competing restaurant staff
• Visitor Center & Local Promotions
  • Funded a fully staffed, year-round visitor center for Long Beach Island and the Mainland at no expense to municipalities
  • Boosted local off-season business by funding marketing campaigns including LBI Wedding Road Show, Small Business Saturday & Chocolate Week
  • Funded annual visitor guides, postcard campaigns, and LBI-focused video series Beneath the Surface
  • Provided LBI Region with its first digital presence and years of targeted tourism campaigns
  • Assisted in launching many distinctive programs such as the Lighthouse International Film Festival and the LBI Ferry Service from Tuckerton to Beach Haven
  • Represented region at travel shows including Washington DC, NY Times Travel & Philadelphia Flower Show
• Awards & Recognition
  • NJ Governor’s Tourism Award of Excellence
  • Best in NJ
  • Best in Ocean County
  • New Jersey Tourism Industry Association Digital Excellence Award for pivoting to the Chowder Trail during the pandemic
• Chowderfest Legacy
  • Continued commitment to scholarships and educational support through the Southern Ocean Chamber Association, 501c3
  • Hall of Fame recognizes past and current restaurants that contributed to Chowderfest housed on chowderfest.com

Thank you for visiting, and please check back for updates on new initiatives and events!

To view the April 8 Beach Haven Chowder Cook Off Presentation, see below or click here