Chowder, Lots of Chowder

The rain on Saturday postponed the Montauk Chamber of Commerce’s fall festival and turned what was supposed to be a fun day into a nightmare for chamber officials, said Laraine Creegan, the chamber’s executive director.

The chamber had to reschedule its volunteers and all involved with the festival, which was moved to Sunday and Monday. But when the sun came out on Sunday, so did the people, making it the busiest, most well-attended fall festival in the event’s history, she said.

Volunteers ladled more than 4,800 cups of clam chowder into the chamber’s commemorative cups. “Without these precious volunteers this event could not have gone so smoothly,” Ms. Creegan said. The lines for the chowder contest wrapped around the Plaza and south Plaza, ending at the entrance to Suffolk County National Bank. Chowder lovers waited in line for up two hours for their two tastings.

Because the event was postponed, the chamber decided to cancel the people’s choice award for chowder, leaving the tasting up to a panel of six judges. For the Manhattan blend, the winners were the Shagwong Tavern in first place, Sausages Pizza in second, and Manucci’s restaurant in third.

Gosman’s restaurant took first place for its New England clam chowder. In second place was the West Lake Clam House, with the Harvest restaurant in third.