September 18 – Charlottetown, PE – The 22nd edition of the Prince Edward Island International Shellfish Festival is a wrap.
It kicked off on Thursday with Feast and Frolic hosted by Chef Chuck Hughes to a sold-out audience of 420 people and featured the World’s Greatest Oyster Bar with over 22 oyster brands, over 20 local and international shuckers and 6,600 oysters. Feast and Frolic was presented by the PEI Fishermen’s Association.
Throughout the weekend over $24,000 in cash prizes were awarded. The Garland Canada International Chef Challenge Winner and the top cash prize of $10,000 went to Jinhee Lee of Foreign Concept Restaurant Calgary, AB. This year’s competition featured an all-Canadian chef lineup to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Canada. For a complete list of winners see below.
The Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association broke the record for the World’s Longest Lobster Roll. The final lobster roll length measured in at 203.2 feet made from 132 lbs of lobster meat and was entirely constructed in the festival tent.
Food Network Canada’s Chef Lynn Crawford hosted the three days of activities with chef demos, cookbook signings and judging at the Garland Canada Chef Challenge.
Preliminary numbers suggest that Saturday and Sunday attendance are both up. Final numbers will be released shortly.
New in 2017, The Marlene Dowdle Memorial Award was introduced with a $1000 cash prize to the fastest ladies shucker. The winner was Melissa Somers. The award was presented by The Dowdle Family and Food Network Canada’s Chef Chuck Hughes.
The dates for the 2018 PEI International Shellfish Festival are September 13-16, 2018.
Congratulations to all the 2017 Winners:
Marlene Dowdle Memorial Award
Fastest Ladies Shucker – Melissa Somers
Ladies Cleanest Plate – Coreen Pickering
Restaurants Canada Shellfish Excellence Award
New Glasgow Lobster Suppers!
Tie One On Mussel Championship
1st: Neil Ellsworth
2nd: Jeff Peterson
3rd – Shane Hustler
Shiny Sea PEI Oyster Shucking Championship
1st Place: Bradley Gallant, Driftwood Catering, PE
2nd place: Jason Woodside, Sou’west Bar and Grill, PE
3rd place: Melissa Sommers, PE
Cleanest Plate: Coreen Pickering, Broadway 45, PE
Raspberry Point International Oyster Shucking Championship
1st: Daniel Notkin, Montreal, PQ
2nd: Emon Clark , Toronto, ON
3rd: Jason Nagay, Montreal, PQ
Cleanest plate (Tie) : Daniel Notkin & Jason Nagay
Motts Best Caesar in Town
1st: Laura Brothers, Old Triangle
2nd: Matthew Hannah, The Hopyard
Garland Canada Chef Challenge
1st – Chef Jinhee Lee – Foreign Concept Restaurant Calgary, AB
2nd – John Vetere- Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
PEI Potato Chowder Championship
1st – Mitchell Jackson, Claddagh Oyster House
2nd – Jane Crawford, The Hopyard
3rd – Erin Henry, Piattos
