The Port Washington Chamber of Commerce SOUPer Bowl is always a welcome respite from the cold winter weather. This year was no exception as the day was chilly and cloudy but the spirit inside the Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church was warm and bright. SOUPer Bowl, in its thirteenth year, has turned into one of the premiere foodie events on Long Island!
A record number of enthusiastic and hungry visitors attended and all received a warm, filling and tasty lunch and a fun-filled afternoon. It was held on February 1 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Those who came were offered samples of soups from fifteen of Port Washington’s best restaurants and markets and then cast their ballots for the 2020 SOUPer Bowl champion.
Before opening to the public, a panel of judges tasted the soups and rated them based on many different qualities. This year’s panel included award winning sports anchor Len Berman, chef and culinary consultant Christine Sanchez, chef Mat Lanfant of the Cooking Lab, gourmet Anne Arter from Commissioner Sponsor Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty, gourmet Joseph Canigiani from Commissioner Sponsor Joseph N. Canigiani, Inc. and Aubrie Westmaas, a deaf-blind client from the Helen Keller National Center.
The judges’ choice for SOUPer Bowl champ was Ayhan’s Mediterranean Marketplace for their turkey chili soup. The people’s choice for SOUPer Bowl champ was Ale’Port for their sweet corn chowder. The kids’ choice was Frank’s Pizza for their chicken noodle soup.
The judges also chose f.i.s.h. on main for their New England clam chowder and Ale’Portfor their sweet corn chowder. The public also chose Wild Honey on Main for their roasted red pepper and tomato bisque and Cactus Café for their chicken corn chowder. The kids’ choices for second and third places were Yummy Gyro for their lemon chicken soup and Port Washington Diner for their Greek lemon chicken soup.
According to the hundreds of people who came to taste the soups, all participants had excellent entries in the contest and they all came away winners. The room was colorfully decorated with football balloon bouquets donated by S.F. Falconer Florist. The Chamber of Commerce had asked for donations of non-perishable food, which they donated to Our Lady of Fatima’s Social Ministry food pantry.
Chamber president Mitch Schwartz was very pleased with the success of the event and asked everyone to reserve February 6, 2021, the Saturday before next year’s Super Bowl, for Port Washington’s SOUPer Bowl XIV.
The participating restaurants were Ale’Port, Ayhan’s Mediterranean Market, Ayhan’s Shish Kebab, Cactus Café, Finn MacCool’s, f.i.s.h. on Main, Frank’s Pizza, Grill Shack, Haven Diner, Port Washington Diner, Sullivan’s Quay, Toscanini, Wild Goose, Wild Honey on Main and Yummy Gyro.
The Chamber of Commerce is grateful to the sponsors who make SOUPer Bowl possible. Commissioner sponsors include Daniel Gale and Joseph N. Canigiani, Inc.
Head Coach sponsors include Anton Community Newspapers, Blank Slate Media, Dime Community Bank, Lisa Donatelli – Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Home Run Electric,Kiwanis Club of Manhasset-Port Washington, Kathy Levinson – Coldwell Banker, Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group, Mathnasium – The Math Learning Center, Phillips Insurance and Reyes Brothers.
Assistant Coach sponsors include the Bart Group, Judi Bosworth – Town Supervisor, Creative Snow by Cow Bay, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Anthony D’Urso – NYS Assemblyman, Chrissy and Matt Kiernan, Lorber/Hoffman Team – Your Key to Real Estate, Port Counseling Center, PW Green, Laurie & Marty Scheinman and Sherwin-Williams Paint Store.
Fan sponsors include Bayside Tax & Wealth, Bendix Engineering, Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society, Delia DeRiggi-Whitton – Nassau County Legislator, Long Island Boat Rentals, N2 Design + Architecture, Om Sweet Om Yoga, Port Washington Adult Activities Center, RudanceNY, Sands Point Center for Health & Rehabilitation, SARA Companion Home Care Services, Sheehan & Company, CPA, PC, Shields Plumbing & Hardware, The Tax Advisory Group and Wayne Wink – Town Clerk.
Tailgater sponsors include Austin F. Knowles Inc., Funeral Home, Ayhan’s Shish Kebab, Charles E. Berman – Town Receiver of Taxes, Robert A. Carpentier, Esq., Delux Transportation, Diane’s Place Hair Salon, Daniel Donatelli, Esq., Evolution Pilates, Falconer Florist, Hefferin Tree & Landscape Contractors. Justine Lennon – Phillips Insurance, Kenneth Magida, Esq., Millenium Software, Mosquito Hunters of Northern Nassau County, My Little World Daycare, Norman Glavas Architects, Jeff Stone – Douglas Elliman Real Estate and Tori’s Place Ear Piercing Studio.
The Chamber offers special thanks to the hard working committee members and volunteers, and to the Town of North Hempstead, and gratefully acknowledges the support and cooperation of all the participating restaurants, the judges and the Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church.
Submitted by the Port Washington Chamber of Commerce.
