SEBASTIAN — There is a new grand champion chowder queen of the Sebastian Clambake and Lagoon Festival. After four years, the Clam Chowder crown has found a new home – with first time competitor Elizabeth Kubsch.
“I am in a state of shock,” Kubsch said, as defending champion Robyn Pauley passed the crown to her. “It’s wonderful!”
Kubsch won with her Manhattan – or red – clam chowder, a first for the category to take top honors.
She credited her grandfather for the recipe, to which she held faithful.
Kubsch beat out 4-time grand champion Robyn Pauley, who didn’t begrudge the new champ.
“It actually feels good,” she said of being able to give up the crown – a modified woven hat adorned with shells and a gecko.
Pauley said that as she started her winning streak, she felt more and more pressure to win.
“It was huge pressure,” she said.
Pauley took first place in the traditional New England chowder. Mickey Capp placed first in the non-traditional chowder category.
Before the chowder judging, those registering their entries said they hoped to be the one to wrest the title from Pauley.
Siblings Sharon and Ellen Morris each submitted chowders for the competition.
“We’ve been doing it for years,” Sharon said of entering the cook-off.
“I think I’m going to win,” Ellen said, noting that they were submitting chowders in different categories.
“I figured I’d try something different,” Sharon said, explaining that she went with the New England chowder while Ellen stuck with the Manhattan.
By going after different categories, the sisters wouldn’t be competing directly with each other.
“Of course, she’d lose anyway,” Ellen said of Sharon. The sisters chuckled.
There were 21 entries this year – not the most the Clambake Chowder Cook-Off has had, but still a decent turnout, according to organizers.
“This one just continues to grow and grow,” Rich Stringer said of the competition.
One of the competitors has a long history with the Sebastian Clambake and Lagoon Festival, being one of the original board members of the event.
Betsy Connelly entered her New England chowder, noting that it was essentially the same recipe as the original chowder served at the inaugural festival.
“We couldn’t make it fast enough,” Connelly said of the chowder that first year. “This event means a lot to me. It’s my baby.”
She said that the original members never imagined the festival would grow as it has over the years.
“I’m very proud to be a part of it – and to be in the cook-off, it’s a big bonus,” Connelly said.
Three judges sampled each of the 21 entries, taking time to confer and determine the best of the best. Those selected to taste-test were Sebastian Mayor Jim Hill, Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Beth Mitchell, and Press Journal representative Debbi Vickers.
“The judges haven’t eaten for two days,” organizer Anjani Cirillo joked with the crowd.
Entries were submitted to judges without names, helping to ensure they wouldn’t know which chowder was whose.
Following the judging, the audience was encouraged to bid on the winners’ entries and buy the remaining chowder containers for $10 each.
County Commissioner and professional auctioneer Wesley Davis was set to auction off the entries, just as the skies opened up in a deluge of rain, sending would-be bidders scattering for shelter.
“I’m the only one without sense to get in out of the rain,” Davis quipped during the auction.
The winning chowders’ bids ranged from $10 to $20 – though had the rain held off a few minutes longer, the auction would have been more lively.
“These are the best of the best chowders, quite frankly, in the world,” said emcee Jim Sexton. “I can say that because I haven’t been out of Sebastian in 20 years.”
