Harbor Fest names Chili and Chowder champs

BILL PEARSON, Staff Reporter
Mon, 09/08/2014 - 6:00pm
HARBOR FEST WINNERS, from left, Watershed Tavern chef Jason Chamness for Best Overall Chowder; Sam Kaler, owner of Kaler’s Restaurant for Best Overall Chili, Betsey Kipp and Susan Miller, owners of the Rocktide Inn for Most Fun Factor Window Display, Stacy McLellan owner of Caper’s Deli for People’s Choice Award for Best Chili, and chef Jack Cogswell of the Whale’s Tale for People’s Choice for Best Chowder. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
HARBOR FEST CHILI AND CHOWDER CHAMPS, from left, were Watershed Tavern chef Jason Chamness, Best Overall Chowder; owner Sam Kaler of Kaler’s Restaurant for Best Overall Chili; Stacy McLellan, owner of Caper’s Deli for People’s Choice Award for Best Chili; and Whale’s Tale chef Jack Cogswell for People’s Choice Award for Best Chowder. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
ROCKTIDE INN OWNERS and sisters Betsey Kipp, left, and Susan Miller received the Business Window Display Award for Fun Factor during the closing ceremonies of the third annual Harbor Fest Celebration closing ceremonies held Sept. 6. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register

    All good things must come to an end, and on Sept. 6 the third annual Harbor Fest event concluded with a closing ceremony held at the Rocktide Inn.

    The ceremony began by naming the winners for the business with the Best Window Display and Most Fun Factor. The winners for the chili and chowder competitions were also awarded.

    In total, 65 businesses, organizations and individuals participated in the 10-day Harbor Fest celebration. 

    Harbor Optical earned first place for Best Window Display for a Popeye made out of buoys with a Harbor Fest logo on it. Four businesses received honorable mentions for their displays: Rocktide Inn, Coastal Maine Popcorn, Two Salty Dogs and Boothbay Region Greenhouse.

    The business who got most involved in all aspects of Harbor Fest and showed the maximum community spirit during the celebration received the Most Fun Factor Award. The Rocktide Inn was selected as the business who carried forth the Harbor Fest mission the best.

    The chili and chowder competition had two divisions: Best Overall and People’s Choice. The Best Overall was judged by celebrity chef Jim Bailey, better known as the “Yankee Chef.”

    Bailey chose The Watershed Tavern as the best chowder and Kaler’s Restaurant for best chili.

    In the People’s Choice division, the winners were the Whale’s Tale Restaurant for best chowder (for the second straight year) and Caper’s Deli for best chili.

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