Floathouse Patio & Grill chef Udo Lerch’s tried and true recipe for chowder is the best in the west, once again.
On March 25 at the Ucluelet Community Centre, Lerch and the Floathouse crew won over the judges bellies and the palates of roughly 200 guests with a classic chowder full of all the familiar ingredients. His dish, which went head-to-head with six other chowders, earned him the 2023 Chowder Chow Down People’s Choice as well as the Judge’s Choice.
“I’m humble,” said Lerch after being crowned the Chowder King of the West Coast.
“I’m proud of our chowder. I’d like to think there are other good chowders out there, but I am biased,” he said with a laugh.
This is the third time the Floathouse crew has won the Pacific Rim Whale Festival’s Chowder Chow Down. In 2017, they won both the People’s and Judge’s Choice and in 2018, they won the People’s Choice.
Ucluelet Mayor Marilyn McEwen was one of seven community members on the judging panel. She said the chowders were judged blind and graded on texture, flavour, aroma, creativity, and presentation.
“There was a really nice variety of chowders this year and I was honoured to be a judge,” said McEwen, who has been on the Pacific Rim Whale Festival board for the past 26 years.
“I think Udo just has it all going, but any one of the restaurants were worthy of winning,” she said.
Chef Shaun Snelling of Long Beach Lodge Resort took a risk by serving a unique, yet delicious miso chowder, chef David Tombs of Black Rock Oceanfront Resort made not one, but two mouthwatering chowders (a Boston style and a red, Manhattan style), Howler’s Restaurant had a hearty Manhattan style chowder with bacon, Tofino’s Roar Restaurant dished out a creative clam chowder à la carte option, and the Co-op served a comforting chowder, just like grandma makes.
Due to a combination of financial problems and pandemic restrictions, this is the first time in five years that the Chowder Chow Down has taken place. Co-chair of the Pacific Rim Whale Festival Society Adam Doolittle says it was a really great turn out and a positive way to wrap the Whale Fest.
“It’s the classic event of the festival. Congratulations to the Floathouse for winning on both ends with the People’s Choice and the Judge’s, it’s a big accolade,” said Doolittle.
“This was our first really good festival in five years. It was good to have a lot of in-person gatherings in the communities again. It feels like we are kind of rebuilding the foundation of the festival for the future. A lot of people got really excited about this iteration of festival and seeing what it can be again, especially for new families that have moved to the community in the past five years,” he said.
The 2023 Pacific Rim Whale Festival Chowder Chow Down was hosted in collaboration with the Pacific Rim Rotary Club.
“Thank you to everyone who came out. We are over the moon with how successful the event was. All of the funds that we raised we will share with the Whale Fest and we will put ours towards the disc golf course,” said Rotary Club member Laurie Gehrke.
nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca
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