Winners announced in the third annual chowder cook off

NEWPORT, R.I. — Thousands of chowder lovers savored the sumptuous soups of the best chefs in the nation and from across the pond at the 33rd Annual Polar Seltzer Great Chowder Cook-Off, held Saturday at the Newport Yachting Center on 4 Commercial Wharf in Newport, Rhode Island. However, they also had a job to do; to determine who was going to take home the coveted titles of "Best Clam," "Best Seafood" and "Best Creative" chowder and compete for thousands of dollars in prize money.

The winners are:

The 2014 Best Clam Chowder

1st Place - Stefano's Seafood Restaurant, Long Beach Island, New Jersey

2nd Place - Pike Place Chowder, Seattle, Washington

3rd Place - Luke's Lobster/Hurricane's Soup, Greene, Maine & New York City

The 2014 Best Seafood Chowder

1st Place - The West Bar, Westport County Mayo, Ireland

2nd Place - Melville Grille, Portsmouth, Rhode Island

3rd Place - The Mooring Kitchen & Bar, Newport, Rhode Island

The 2014 Best Creative Chowder

1st Place - TRIO, Narragansett, Rhode Island

2nd Place - StoneRidge, Mystic, Connecticut

3rd Place - 22 Bowen's Wine Bar & Grille, Newport, Rhode Island

People's Choice Most Spirited Team Winner - Pike Place Chowder, Seattle, Washington

Best Decorated Booth Winner - Fat Face Fenner's Fishack, Hermosa Beach, California

"Stefano's won its third title in a row in the Clam Category which means they are now in the Great Chowder Cook-Off Hall of Fame while The West Bar from Ireland beat out two-time local champion the Melville Grille in the Seafood category and Rhode Island's-own TRIO in Narragansett was deemed the most creative chowder of the day," said Mike Martin, Director of Newport Waterfront Events. "However, the real winners were the thousands of attendee-judges who came out to enjoy all the chowder and entertainment, as well as the local charities that benefited from the event."