SANTA CRUZ — Families and friends funneled in through the entrance of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on Saturday, clutching their tasting kits and talking about the good times past and present.
The rain-or-shine event is Santa Cruz County Parks and Recreation’s biggest annual fundraiser, with many new and returning teams battling it out over two days to claim the title of best clam chowder. Saturday was reserved for the amateurs chefs.
The professional chefs take the spotlight from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Boardwalk.
As the county’s largest and longest-running clam chowder cook-off, it was no surprise to see returning faces, as friends and family have made this an annual tradition for themselves as well. Dave Sieburg, 42, and his family are locals who have returned the last six years to participate in the event. This year was no different.
“I never thought I liked clam chowder until I came to this [event,]” Sieburg said. “The amateurs are my favorite — they get a little bit more creative with their chowders.”
The chefs are also a big reason they attribute their return each year, saying they make it “super fun” and they “can’t get enough of the clam puns.”
“I do have a clam chowder threshold though, and that’s about the sixth tasting,” Sieburg said with a laugh.
Shannon Cotton, 25, who is a recreation assistant for events and classes for Santa Cruz County, declared it another great year and said the public support for the event “just shows through.”
“Everybody is so caring and nice with a smile on their face,” she said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what the judges come up with this year; everybody is pretty level in their talent, so it’s tough.”
Events such as these, Cotton said, are vital to the health of the community.
“Everybody wants to live in a place where you can get together and see your neighbors, see people from out of town, see people from different countries,” she said. “I think it is really cool that we have everything across the board right here in Santa Cruz. This place gives so much to us that it feels great to give back to Santa Cruz.”
Cooking for the amateurs, Kenny Simon, 43, and Richard Garcia, 31, were there representing the local 1716 Santa Cruz City Firefighters to support Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation. Behind the booth, wearing matching aprons and attracting crowds with their jovial mannerisms, they were eyeing the prize hungrily.
“From chiefs to probationary firefighters, we’re all in,” Garcia said.
Having been successful in the past, they said volume is key.
They made about 30 gallons of clam chowder, Simon said, with the final recipe being a mixture of several from “good, local friends and fire personnel from Watsonville to Santa Cruz city.”
“We work together as part of our career — it’s part of our job, it keeps us safe and it keeps us alive — so this is kind of a way to let us not have a uniform on and be out interacting with the public,” Simon said.
Both Simon and Garcia are veteran competitors, with Simon having participated in the last six years and Garcia here for his third year. And if volume is half of their success, good communication makes up the other half.
“It’s a very different type of communication that allows us to really express the culinary camaraderie that is within the firehouse that we can share with the community and the public from around the world,” Garcia said, his arm draped over Simon’s shoulder while the sounds of good-natured teasing and laughter fill the background.
Their chowder was an early favorite for Pam Hurban, who has attended the event from Modesto the last six years. Saying she only votes on white (chowders) and what hits her right, she said the firefighters “did a good job.”
“My good friend and I always make it a point to come out here,” Hurban said. “It’s nice to be near the beach, I love clam chowder and everyone is just in a really good mood — I’m not much on crowds, but I can deal with it out here because everyone is happy.”
And as good as these events are for the community, events like this one she said also provides a special opportunity for friendships
“We are adults now, and sometimes it is hard to find time to hang out,” she said. “It’s definitely good for friendships.”
If you go
What: Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook-off (professional division).
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
Where: Boardwalk
Information: beachboardwalk.com.
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