Central Oregon Coast Best Chowder Winner Declared in Florence Festival

Published 02/22/25 at 2:35 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Florence, Oregon) – Presidents' Day Weekend involved lots of voters and a winner of a different kind on the central Oregon coast this month. Florence just wrapped up its Wine, Chowder & Glass Float Trails Weekend and declared a winner in the best chowder award. (Market & Dine-in Deli at Driftwood Shores Resort)

Following the event, ballots were tallied, and the area's best chowder was awarded to The Market & Dine-in Deli at Driftwood Shores Resort for their delightful chicken and corn chowder, chosen by hundreds of participants.

Other contenders included The Krab Kettle, ICM Restaurant, and Three Rivers Casino Resort. Northwest Memory Care secured second place, just one vote behind, with their corn-and-bacon chowder. This year's competition was tight, with only 23 votes separating the top five. Participating wineries featured J Scott Cellars, Sarver, Reustle-Prayer Rock, Hayworth Estates, Capitello, Gelardi Vineyards, Summerfield, Season Cellars, and Stillwagon Distillery offering spirit samples in Old Town. Additionally, Three Rivers Casino Resort showcased Willamette Valley Vineyards.

Terry Hankins is sales and marketing manager for Driftwood Shores – and she praised their new chef, Eddie Howard, from Tampa, Florida.

"Eddie has an extensive background in resort event catering and restaurants,” Hankins said. “Since joining The Market & Dine-in Deli, he has been making a significant impact. His roasted sweet corn and chicken chowder, rich with thyme, oregano, white pepper, a touch of cayenne, roasted corn, chicken, and a blend of vegetables, has truly introduced him to the area with a victory."

This year, Oregon coast visitors enjoyed two days of wine tasting, received a commemorative wine glass, chowder ballots, and a glass float map to find nearly three dozen stunning glass floats "hidden in plain sight" at participating merchants. A free shuttle provided transportation between key event sites - Three Rivers Casino Resort, The Playhouse, the Florence Events Center, and Gazebo Park in Historic Old Town Florence. Attendees cast their votes for their favorite chowder using tokens at a tent outside the Playhouse, where former Rhododendron Festival Queen Haylee Cole greeted voters.

Mitzi Hathaway, the event’s coordinator, said they had visitors from around Oregon, as well as California, Washington, and as far away as Boston. At one of the wine functions, she met a couple from Texas, Corey and Annette Smyth, and typified the wide range of visitors to Florence.

“They had never been to the Oregon coast,” Hathaway said. “They said they searched festivals online and found the Wine and Chowder Trail on the Chamber’s website, decided to fly into Eugene, rent a car, and attend. Annette said that everyone she met in Florence was welcoming and friendly. Corey said he had never been to an event as well organized and fun as this. They were in the crowd of more than 200 on Sunday afternoon at the glass float giveaway and chowder award ceremony.”

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Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast.

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