By David A. Sargent,Special to the Sun Journal

LEWISTON – Some like it hot; others like it on the mild side. Some prefer clams and fish; others go for a good corn chowder recipe.

Any way they like it, there were lots of happy people standing shoulder-to-shoulder Wednesday night to sample some of the region’s best chili and chowder at the Ramada Conference Center ballroom.

It was the scene of the Third Annual Chili and Chowder Taste Challenge for the benefit of the Gov. James B. Longley School in Lewiston. Organizers said this was the best of the yearly events with ticket sales expected to top the $5,000 earned for the inner-city school last year.

There were 26 participating restaurants and the judges’ choices for first place were Rolly’s Diner, Auburn, for chili, and Village Inn, Auburn, for chowder. The People’s Choice winners by vote of the ticket-buying public were South of the Border, Lewiston, for chili, and Julien’s, Gray, for chowder.

The best display award went to Davinci’s Eatery, Lewiston.

Betty and Elwyn Hutchins of Lisbon Falls said they feel the annual challenge is an excellent community event.

“We came last year and enjoyed it, so we came back this year,” Betty Hutchins said. “We wanted to find about new restaurants out there so we could try them later,” she said.

Also attending were Jane and David Erickson of Auburn.

“This is our first time. We heard good things about it last year, and I’m impressed,” said Jane Erickson. She said her husband is more of a chili lover, and he agreed.

“There are a lot of great choices, all for a good cause, and it’s well worth supporting,” he said.

Dan Caron, who heads the culinary arts program of the Lewiston Regional Technical Center of Lewiston High School, has been an organizer of the challenge from the beginning.

Best display was a new award last year, so Caron said the restaurants kicked it up a notch this year with attempts to win.

He said some restaurants also came in with chili and chowder recipe changes as the competition challenged them to put out their best.

In addition to being a promotional opportunity for the restaurants, Caron pointed out that the establishments donate a lot to benefit Longley School.

“They want to be able to put award-winning chowder’ or award-winning chili’ on their menu. It’s a big honor,” he said.

“They donate their night hours, they probably donate $200 to $300 worth of food product, sometimes they have to pay their help to be here, and they also donate certificates for the raffles,” he said.

About 70 percent of the participating restaurants have been in since the beginning, Caron said.

Caron said 45 of his students worked all day on the event. They had a 16-foot serpentine table covered with gourmet breads and pastries in the middle of the ballroom, and students also demonstrated their talents in carved fruit and butter sculptures.

Caron said the challenge is part of the students’ class work in which they learn how to organize and host a major event. The lesson plan includes set-up, working with the city on getting licenses, renting a facility (in this case, the Ramada donated the space), tickets and promotion.

Three seniors in Caron’s program were members of the planning committee. They are Heather Avery, Elycia Gagne and Bobby Morin.

Linda Adkins, sixth-grade teacher at Longley School, said the Chili and Chowder Taste Challenge is important to the school because there is no parent organization for fundraising, except for five or six parents who manage to raise a few hundred dollars a year.

“The teachers are the parent group, and we love the kids so much that we’re willing to do this,” she said. She said the funds provide enrichment materials and resources for field trips.

Second-place judges’ award for chowder went to Youly’s Family Restaurant, Turner, and third place for chowder went to Fast Breaks, Lewiston.

Second-place judges’ award for chili went to Fast Breaks, Lewiston, and third place was given to Just Joan’s Lewiston.

The second-place People’s Choice winners were Village Inn, Auburn, for chowder, and tied for second in chili were Rolly’s Diner, Auburn, and Central Maine Medical Center, Lewiston.

Third-place People’s Choice for chowder was Always Fresh Seafood, Auburn.

Second place for display went to Village Inn, Auburn, and third went to South of the Border, Lewiston.

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