Chowdafest on Super Bowl Sunday Announces Chef Ref Mascot

What’s black & white and red all over? Well if you said a zebra with a sun burn, you’re only half right.

A referee is also known as a “zebra” because of the black & white striped shirt they wear, just like the new Chowdafest mascot called “Chef Ref."

Chef Ref is just one of the many new additions to be announced throughout the month to this year’s culinary competition - Chowdafest - which is held annually on Super Bowl Sunday. This year Chowdafest will be held Feb. 2, 2014 from 11:00am to 3:00pm at the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard.

2014 marks the sixth year of the competition and last year 2 of the winners came from Norwalk: Donovan’s in the Classic New England category and Ginger Man in the Creative Chowder category.

“More and more people are making it a tradition to come to Chowdafest as part of their pre-Super Bowl plans,” said Jim Keenan, event creator and organizer in a release. “Our new mascot is part chef, part ref." 

Chowdafest takes place between 11:00a.m. and 3:00p.m. at the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard, right off exit 27 on I-95 in Bridgeport.

Chowdafest, presented by Stop & Shop, will feature twenty eight highly recognized chefs/restaurants across Connecticut with a total of 32 entries, eight in each of the four competition categories. Adults and kids alike are given a spoon, pencil and ballot when they enter the arena. They then sample chowder, soup and bisque and vote on their favorites. Kids get a free chef hat to decorate while supplies last. Chowdafest benefits Connecticut Food Bank. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for kids ages 6-12 which are available at the arena box office.

Chowdafest fans can save $2 on every adult ticket ($10) with an advanced ticket purchase at any New Haven and Fairfield County Stop & Shop locations (cash only please).

Chef Ref will make two appearances in Norwalk this month: Sunday, Jan. 19 at Stop & Shop on Main Ave. from 11:30 – 1:00 and on Sun. Jan 19 from 1:30 – 2:30 at Stop & Shop on Connecticut Ave. The event mascot will also be at Chowdafest on Sun. Feb. 2 – Chowdafest from 11:00 – 3:00p.m.

For additional information about Chowdafest, please visit www.chowdafest.org or email event director Jim Keenan at chowdafest@optonline.net.