News > Interviews > Connie Crudo

1- When did Chowderfest first start?

2012 will be the 14th anniversary of Chowderfest. It started in 1998..

2- How did the idea originate?

Chowderfest started as a small part of Winterfest. The Convention Bureau decided we wanted to be involved with Winterfest , and Chowderfest was ?born?. Chowderfest involves many area restaurants and helps bring business to Saratoga?s restaurants, lodging properties and retailers during a typically slow time of year.

3- How much has it grown over the years?

I have records that go back to 2002 and in that year there were 18 participants. In 2010 we had 56 participants, and last year there were 73 Chowder outlets!

4- What makes the 2011 Chowderfest different from the past years?

This is a very exciting year for us because we are implementing several great changes. For starters, The Saratoga Springs City Center will be a ballot drop-off point and folks can buy their $7 t-shirts there as well as the Arts Center and the Visitor?s Center. We have 3,000 shirts ordered versus 2,000 last year. We have also changed the way the winners will be chosen. This year the winners will have the highest percentage of votes for favorite chowder rather than just the most votes for favorite. This means some of the smaller outlets with less traffic could win if they have a high percentage of votes for favorite. There will be lots of new businesses participating this year and on our website (www.discoversaratoga.org.) , we are highlighting entertainment that will be taking place during Chowderfest.!

5- Tell us more about Winterfest.

Winterfest is a variety of events happening in Saratoga on a particular winter weekend, this year it will be February 3-5th.  There is a wine tasting, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and other great activities.  More info on Winterfest events can be found on our website at www.discoversaratoga.org. We are updating Winterfest information as events comes in.

6- What do you think has made Chowderfest so popular?

I think Chowderfest is an affordable, fun thing to do on a cold day.  We have top-notch restaurants competing, it is kid friendly, dog friendly and the city comes alive with all the energy from the Chowderlovers.    When Chowderfest ends at 4:00, people tend to linger and eat, drink and shop.  We’ve seen an increase in people staying overnight and enjoying Saratoga.

7- What is your favorite part of Chowderfest?

My personal favorite part of Chowderfest is watching people have so much fun and hearing the laughter. It is crazy how so many people come out, all bundled up, and stand in lines to get the sample of warm chowder. Everyone seems to be having such a great time! I also love that the restaurants get so excited about the competition aspect of Chowderfest. They display the winning framed certificates on their walls all year round.  

8- Tell us about the “Doggie Chow-Down”? 

For the past 3 years we had some retail stores make a special chowder for dogs only. At 1:00 on Saturday, in the Saratoga Downtowner Motel parking lot right on Broadway, we have the ?doggie chowder participants? bring a bowl of their chowder and set them at the end of the red carpet. We have our furry celebrity judge let his nose do the work and chose a winner. The winner is awarded a trophy that will be displayed in their store until the following year?s competition. From the first year to last year, the number of dogs (and their owners) that come to watch have at least doubled!

9- What types of chowder can people expect to see?

People can find gluten-free chowder, vegetarian chowder, vegan chowder, seafood chowder, corn chowder, chicken chowder, southwestern chowder, beer chowder, Saratoga Chip chowder, and even ?dessert chowder? provided by Ben & Jerry?s of Saratoga, Plum Dandy and Betties Cakes. We have asked our restaurants to give us the names of their chowders so as we receive them, we will have them listed on our website.

10- Describe Chowderfest in one word:  Can I use 2?  YUM!!!  And FUN!!!

Learn more about Saratoga's Chowderfest and Winterfest right here!