Get ready for a delicious afternoon with Battle of the Chefs: Chowder & Chili Showdown on May 23 from noon to 5pm! Local professional chefs will be facing off in the Wa Walton Event Center to serve the best dishes for the chance to walk away victorious with a shiny trophy and cash prize!

The masterminds behind your favorite dishes at Swinomish Casino & Lodge are going head-to-head at this thrilling event, including Executive Chef Nathan Thorsvik; John Scheffler, Room Chef at Swinomish Sports Bar & Grill; Ken Barnes, Room Chef at Carver’s Café; Banquets Chef Ben Miles; and 13moons Sous Chef Michael Spencer. The incredible John Jadamec from Tulalip Resort Casino will also be joining the competition. Additional chefs will be announced soon, so stay tuned!

Participating chefs will come prepared with chili and chowder for your tasting pleasure! Each ticket to the event includes five tasting tickets, giving you the chance to enjoy 2-ounce samples of chili and chowder. If you want to sample more than five recipes, don’t worry! Additional tasting tickets will be available for $3. Two voting tickets are also included with admission, one for your favorite chili and another for your favorite chowder. Once you’ve cast your votes, you will receive an 8-ounce cup of your chosen chowder and chili. Voting closes at 4:30pm, and we’ll tally the votes to announce the winners by 5pm! The chefs behind the most popular chili and chowder will each receive a trophy and $500 in cash!

But the excitement doesn’t stop there! The chefs will also be competing in a Secret Ingredient Challenge, using their creativity and talent to secure the top prize. The first round of this fast-paced competition gives chefs 45 minutes to create an entrée that incorporates the provided mystery ingredients, with 15 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook. Chefs can also choose to make an appetizer featuring at least one mystery ingredient to serve alongside the main dish. At the end of the round, our judges will vote on the main dishes to choose who progresses to the final round!

The chefs who survive elimination in round one will be given 45 minutes to create a dessert. Once again, our chefs will have 15 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook their dishes. Our judges will taste the presented desserts and select one winner to score a trophy and $1,000 in cash!

Tickets are just $20 and will be available for purchase starting on March 2! Stop by the Lodge front desk or visit SwinTickets.com to buy your tickets. Keep an eye out for additional information coming soon!

Must be 18 or older to purchase tickets. Event ticket sales are final, no refunds. All competing participants must be professional chefs and agree to disclose their current restaurant, company, or organizational affiliation. Not all chefs will have both chili and chowder. Management reserves all rights.