LBI Chowder Trail kicks off ahead of annual Chowderfest in October

Sarah Griesemer, Asbury Park Press
·2 min read

September on Long Beach Island is a magical time.

Following a very busy few months, the pace is slower and the beaches just as beautiful. Plus, there's chowder.

The LBI Chowder Trail, a monthlong event leading up to the annual Chowderfest festival in October, kicked off this weekend and runs through Sept. 30. Nine restaurants across 10 miles are cooking their best chowders in the categories of red, white and creative, and customers are invited to visit each one, purchase a cup and vote for their favorites.

Winners will be announced during Chowderfest, which takes place Oct. 1.

Here are this year's participating restaurants:

  • Red chowder: Country Kettle Chowda in Beach Haven, Daddy O Restaurant & Bar in Brant Beach and Dockside Diner in Long Beach Township

  • White chowder: Country Kettle Chowda, Russo’s Italian Restaurant in Ship Bottom, The Chicken or the Egg in Beach Haven and Tuckers Tavern in Beach Haven

  • Creative chowder: Country Kettle Chowda, Delaware Avenue Oyster House in Beach Haven, LaBamba Express in Beach Haven and The Old Causeway in the Manahawkin section of Stafford

The Chicken or the Egg, a past Chowderfest winner, will enter its white chowder this year.
The Chicken or the Egg, a past Chowderfest winner, will enter its white chowder this year.

More:From pasta and soul food to donuts and coffee, here are 10 new Jersey Shore restaurants to try

Those who are interested in voting can visit chowderfest.com/chowder-trail/ to sign up for a mobile passport. Once you check in at a participating restaurant, you will receive a link to vote for your favorite chowder. Voting closes Sept. 30.

All about Chowderfest

Chowderfest will take place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Taylor Avenue waterfront in Beach Haven. Admission to the festival is free, and while chowder tastings won't be offered, restaurants will attend and sell their chowder along with other dishes.

There also will be live music, beer on tap, more than 50 vendors, and family activities.

The annual festival started in 1989 as a way to both attract visitors to Long Beach Island after the busy summer season and fund local scholarships, and thousands attended each year. Chowderfest was a dayslong event where visitors sipped samples and voted for their favorite.

More:From blueberry shakes to cranberry hot dogs, nosh your way through NJ Pine Barrens

The model changed in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of sampling at the festival, chowder fans had the month of September to order from participating restaurants before voting online.

"It has had to evolve over the 34 years and will continue to," said Lori Pepenella, CEO of the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, which hosts Chowderfest. "Each year there is an assessment to see what works and what needs to be restructured."

For more information, visit chowderfest.com.

Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@gannettnj.com, and for more Jersey Shore food news, subscribe to our weekly Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: LBI Chowder Trail kicks off, Chowderfest follows in October