Maryland Seafood Festival Judges
On Saturday, September 14th, more than a dozen competitors cooked their best versions of crab soup in the annual Crab Soup Cookoff, held at the Maryland Seafood Festival at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis. Cooked by local restaurants, caterers, and personal chefs, the competing soups were made on site and evaluated by a panel of local celebrity judges, as well as the general public. Both Judges’ and People’s Choice honors, across three categories of competition—for Maryland-style Soup, Cream of Crab Soup, and Alternative Soup—were awarded.
The panel of judges included: Beau Breeden, local small business owner and Community Volunteer; Sandy Biello, marketing director for Annapolis Moms Media; Meg Walburn Viviano, editorial director of Chesapeake Bay Magazine; Dana Jones, Maryland State Delegate (District 30A); Jessica Pachler, Eastport resident and advocate; and What’s Up? Media’s editorial director, James Houck.
Judging of each soup was made according to overall taste, appearance, and best use of blue crab. Points were awarded for each criterion and tallied, with the overall winners and second-place honors being announced on stage at the festival.
Winners included, for:
Maryland-style Crab Soup
Judges’ 1st Place: Jimmy’s Famous Seafood
Judges’ 2nd Place: La Prima Catering
People’s Choice 1st Place: Boatyard Bar & Grill
People’s Choice 2nd Place: La Prima Catering
Cream of Crab Soup
Judges’ 1st Place: Jimmy’s Famous Seafood
Judges’ 2nd Place: Federal House Bar & Grill
People’s Choice 1st Place: Cooper’s Tavern
People’s Choice 2nd Place: Ports of Call
Alternative Soup
Judges’ 1st Place: King Cheffe
Judges’ 2nd Place: La Prima Catering
People’s Choice 1st Place: King Cheffe
People’s Choice 2nd Place: Dock Street Bar & Grill
