The Vancouver Chowder Challenge was a success featuring creations from restaurants from around Vancouver. Each restaurant featured their Chowder creation from March 6-30, 2025.
The Winners are:
1st Place (tie):
{108 points}
Lift Bar & Grill
Ceasar’s Chowder
Price: $18
Created by: Chris Andraza,
Description: Manhattan style clam chowder with a play on a Ceasar cocktail.
Lots of horseradish, Worcestershire and Tabasco.
Suggested pairing: Vodka Martini
Ingredients:
Offered: All day, everyday
Available: for dine-in only
Lift Bar & Grill
333 Menchion Mews, Vancouver
Tel: (604) 689-5438
Web: https://www.liftbarandgrill.com/
Instagram @liftbarandgrill
1st Place (tie):
{108 points}
Food by Fanta
Tom Yum Chowder
Price: $17
Created by: Owner and Executive Chef, Parinya Loptson
Description: Thick, creamy and flavourful seafood chowder with a Thai twist, served with crispy Tom Yum flavoured rice paper rolls.
Add our new Pandan Brioche bun for dipping (side order) for $5.
Ingredients: Clams, lobster and bacon; clam juice; lime leaves; galangal; lemongrass; cilantro; onion; leeks; garlic; sweet chili paste; Thai chili; lime juice; fish sauce; salt; palm sugar; heavy cream; coconut milk; and potatoes.
Offered: Lunch and dinner
Available: for dine-in and takeout
Food by Fanta
20542 Fraser Hwy #107, Langley
Tel: (604) 427-0166
Web: www.FoodbyFanta.com
Instagram @foodbyfanta
2nd Place
{98 points}
Vancouver Aquarium
Signature Sustainable Seafood Chowder
Price: $14
Created by: Executive Chef David Lee
Description: Enjoy a jaw-some bowl of our delicious sustainably sourced seafood chowder at the Vancouver Aquarium. Delight in the flavours of wild Sockeye, pacific cod, Ocean Mama clams in this hearty chowder. The tasty mouthwatering seafood chowder is simmered to perfection with tender potatoes and fire roasted tomatoes. Served with a toasted Baguette.
Ingredients:Pacific Cod, Wild Sockeye, Ocean Mama Clams, Yukon Gold potatoes, fire roasted tomato, baguette.
Available: Daily all the time
Vancouver Aquarium (all on site restaurants including the Courtyard Cafe and the Upstream Cafe and also starting March 16 at the Bicycle Bistro Cafe)
845 Avison Way, Vancouver
Tel:(778) 655-9554
Instagram @vanaqua
In the People’s Choice Awards category, the public who tried the Chowder creations were the ones who had the opportunity to cast their vote throughout the challenge.
The Winners are:
1st Place People’s Choice:
Vancouver Aquarium
Signature Sustainable Seafood Chowder
Price: $14
Created by: Executive Chef David Lee
Description: Enjoy a jaw-some bowl of our delicious sustainably sourced seafood chowder at the Vancouver Aquarium. Delight in the flavours of wild Sockeye, pacific cod, Ocean Mama clams in this hearty chowder. The tasty mouthwatering seafood chowder is simmered to perfection with tender potatoes and fire roasted tomatoes. Served with a toasted Baguette.
Ingredients:Pacific Cod, Wild Sockeye, Ocean Mama Clams, Yukon Gold potatoes, fire roasted tomato, baguette.
Available: Daily all the time
Vancouver Aquarium (all on site restaurants including the Courtyard Cafe and the Upstream Cafe and also starting March 16 at the Bicycle Bistro Cafe)
845 Avison Way, Vancouver
Tel:(778) 655-9554
Instagram @vanaqua
2nd Place People’s Choice:
Lift Bar & Grill
Ceasar’s Chowder
Price: $18
Created by: Chris Andraza,
Description: Manhattan style clam chowder with a play on a Ceasar cocktail.
Lots of horseradish, Worcestershire and Tabasco.
Suggested pairing: Vodka Martini
Ingredients:
Offered: All day, everyday
Available: for dine-in only
Lift Bar & Grill
333 Menchion Mews, Vancouver
Tel: (604) 689-5438
Web: https://www.liftbarandgrill.com/
Instagram @liftbarandgrill
3rd Place People’s Choice:
Food by Fanta
Tom Yum Chowder
Price: $17
Created by: Owner and Executive Chef, Parinya Loptson
Description: Thick, creamy and flavourful seafood chowder with a Thai twist, served with crispy Tom Yum flavoured rice paper rolls.
Add our new Pandan Brioche bun for dipping (side order) for $5.
Ingredients: Clams, lobster and bacon; clam juice; lime leaves; galangal; lemongrass; cilantro; onion; leeks; garlic; sweet chili paste; Thai chili; lime juice; fish sauce; salt; palm sugar; heavy cream; coconut milk; and potatoes.
Offered: Lunch and dinner
Available: for dine-in and takeout
Food by Fanta
20542 Fraser Hwy #107, Langley
Tel: (604) 427-0166
Web: www.FoodbyFanta.com
Instagram @foodbyfanta
Our media judging panel determined the ultimate winners of the challenge, and this was quite the task as each judge who tasted each creation with a rigorous process based on taste, originality/uniqueness and presentation/appearance.
Our Media judges for this challenge were: Maggi Mei, Ray Lee and Shelley Hayashi.
Each media judge will have scored the creation with a maximum of 40 points as follows: Overall Taste 20 points, Originality and Uniqueness 10 points, Presentation and Appearance 10 points). The total number of points a cake creation could earn is 120 points.
Thank you to the chefs and establishments that accepted my invitation and featured their Chowder creations on the menu for the past few weeks during this challenge.
I encourage you to visit the winning places to try their Chowder creations!
By: Richard Wolak