Though the “official numbers” are not yet in from Lowell’s Winterfest celebration, COBBLESTONES served up nearly 18 gallons of soup on that first Friday night, and maybe another 15G or so on Saturday/yesterday–the most soup ever for the Souper Bowl competition, that we have now “won”, three years in a row*. (* Either the judges award, or the people’s choice) This year, we won judges award for Shrimp Bisque with shrimp toast, a collaborative effort between (3) chefs, all adding critique until the final product was judged, and took home top honors! (We wish there was some left for you…)
The People’s Choice award went (again!) to soup “nemesis”, Frenchy, who always comes up with some creative, “old school” soup interpretation of a favorite dish– This year, Stuffed Pepper and who won a couple of year’s ago with his Baked Potato Soup. We love this guy–not only for his great soup creativity, but also because, as such a great customer, he knows that COBBLESTONES Potato Skins are “listed 9th” on our menu, in order of appetizers! Good stuff.
Sorry, that I have know idea who won the DogSled races, or the Chocolate Festival, or The Snowman contest, or the…We stay pretty COBBLESTONES focused over those two days…but one more impressive thing about Winterfest? How many people actually tried our Mardi Gras special, Bayou Shrimp with Alligator and Pork Jowl! In three stages of “fun”– I get to conceive a recipe idea, the Chef gets to figure out how to make it work, and youz guys get to enjoy the final product! Lots of funny faces BEFORE trying it, followed by lots of “whoa” and “oh my god” s to follow! More good stuff. (When people ask, “What does Alligator taste like?”, I generally pause, think real hard and say… “Um, like crocodile, but with more bite.”) (I’m so funny, right?)
Only 123 days left to…FOLK FESTIVAL!!!
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