Thirteen Vancouver Chef Finalists Selected for 2013 Ocean Wise Chowder Chowdown at Vancouver Aquarium

What's your favorite version of Pacific Northwest chowder? Photo by Sue Frause.

It's time for the 2013 Vancouver Aquarium Ocean Wise Chowder Chowdown competition -- try saying that with a mouthful of chowder! This year's event is Wednesday, November 20 at 7 PM at the Vancouver Aquarium, and the chef finalists have been announced.

Defending 2012 Chowder Chowdown champion Chris Whitaker of Forage at the Listel Hotel will be going up against a dozen well respected chefs. Although considered a "friendly" cook-off, the finalists take their seafood creations seriously. They'll be competing for votes from a distinguished judges' panel that will select the winner, along with a People's Choice winner chosen by the hundreds of guests attending the event. Guests will also decide which is the Best Chowder-Beer Pairing of the evening. The 13 competing chefs are:

• Chris Whitaker | Forage at the Listel Hotel (Defending Champion)
• Ned Bell | YEW Restaurant + Bar at the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver
• Aleks Kornat | Manhattan Restaurant at Delta Vancouver Suites
• Michael Lackner | Sodexo Canada
• Joanna Astudillo | Vancouver Aquarium Catering & Events
• Eric Pateman | Edible Canada
• Nicolas Hipperson | C Restaurant
• Dana Hauser | Herons West Coast Kitchen at Fairmont Waterfront
• Hiro Amano | COAST Restaurant
• Kevin Benes | Savoury Chef Foods Catering Company
• Benjamin Curtis | The August Jack
• Paul Cecconi | Brodo Kitchen & Catering w/CodFathers Seafood Market
• Tim Evans | The Cascade Room

Guests attending the event at the Vancouver Aquarium will not only sample the chowders paired with craft beers, but learn about the importance of making ocean-friendly seafood choices. Tickets for the 2013 Vancouver Ocean Wise Chowder Chowdown are $50 and available online. Proceeds from the event benefit the Aquarium's Ocean Wise program. Chowder Chowdown is a 19+ event.

"Overfishing is the biggest issue facing our oceans today. The Ocean Wise symbol next to a seafood item is the Vancouver Aqarium's assurance of an ocean-friendly seafood choice. With over 3,100 Ocean Wise partner locations across Canada, Ocean Wise makes it easy for consumers to make sustainable seafood choices that ensure the health of our oceans for generations to come." Vancouver Aquarium Ocean Wise