boston's annual chowderfest happened last sunday, as a part of the city's harborfest celebration. twelve area restaurants participated by offering cupfulls of their own versions of the signature regional cuisine. we arrived a little late, but with plenty of time to sufficiently assess each and every sample.

after trying each and every one (averaging about 3 bites per), we all decided that captain parker's pub and restaurant, operating out of west yarmouth (on cape cod) and ned devine's irish pub, homegrown in boston, were the two favorites. we each took one more sample of both ned's and captain parker's and compared, bite by bite, side by side. some of us chose captain parker's, others chose ned devine's (that was my pick). either way, both were delicious. i need to find where in boston ned devine's is and go there. now.

the winners were recently announced: captain parker's took first, the grille at hobbs brooke at the double tree guest suites took second (zuh!?), and ned devine's, heartbreakingly, came in a modest third. they've won the last 2 years! they deserved the trifecta.

some visual supplements:


this is how big most of the samples were. most of them were delicious. some of them were not. this one, if i remember correctly, was, indeed, delicious.


maybe the most typical bostonian i've seen yet. i love this kid. i've never met him. but i did take a picture of him.


these guys were really entertaining, but only for a few minutes. they didn't stay long. there was also some live music, mostly played by old men with trumpets, french horns, etc. lots of fun.


i'm happy. i love my spoon. and there are bubbles happening. awesome.


the (not-quite) golden ticket


there is also a photo of me standing with "the skipper," but it's on a friend's camera/computer and i need to get it from her. it will surface soon.

photos of the parade and ensuing fireworks to come.