UCSC Clam Chowder earns 1st Place Award

February 27, 2017

The people have spoken, and they said our chowder is their favorite!

This Sunday, February 26, our UCSC Dining team won the 1st Place People’s Choice Award for our red Manhattan Clam Chowder at the 36th Annual competition at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

The Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook-off and Festival has grown so much during its 36 year history that this year, the event organizers expanded the festival into a 2-day event. Amateur teams competed on Saturday, then our UCSC Dining chefs faced off with other Professional teams on Sunday.

The Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook-Off and Festival has raised more than $1 million for City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department programs since it started in 1981.

UCSC Dining has been competing in the cook-off since 2005, and we have taken home 16 awards to date. We would like to thank our talented staff for their efforts and enthusiasm in participating in the cook-off!

Get a taste of the award-winning chowder at your closest dining hall. Check the menus on the UCSC Dining website (dining.ucsc.edu) for upcoming dates of service.