Winterfest 2005 Crowns New Chowder Champ

By Susan BushPrint Story | Email Story
New Chowder Champ - Mountain View Restaurant
View Slide Show
North Adams - A first-time chowder cook-off entry captured the Winterfest 2005 Best Chowder crown on Feb. 26, and Mountain View Restaurant owner Michael Milazzo said he couldn't be happier. See Photo Slide Show Here "We entered mainly to get the exposure," Milazzo said during an interview following the event. "This feels awesome. I always knew we had one of the best chefs in the area." Chef Randy Beaudoin seasoned and simmered the winning New England-style clam chowder. Restaurant manager Joe Williamson and self-described "super-waiter" William Pikula dished steaming cups to dozens of chowder aficionados. The event was held at the Holiday Inn on Main Street. Victory meant besting the past chowder champion Boston Sea Foods restaurant; no small feat, since that eatery claimed the chowder title during the 2003 and 2004 Winterfests, as well as during a 1998 event. This year's entry scored a thumbs-up from 11-year-old Kayla Brown-Wood of Clarksburg, who said that she'd never before tried chowder and then scooped a spoonful of the Boston Sea Foods offering into her mouth. "Hey, I like it!" she said. The win wasn't a sweep; every competitor found a following. "The North Adams Hospital outdid themselves," said Elizabeth Ralston of North Adams. Kimberly Shand of Williamstown faced a tasty toss-up: "I liked the Purple Pub chowder, but I thought that Gringo's was really good." First-time chowderfest visitors George and Shirley Mullen of North Adams found themselves involved in a friendly debate about which chowder was the best but added that they weren't ready to vote. "We haven't gotten all the way around the room yet," Shirley Mullen said. And Lauren Holmes, a North Adams seven-year-old who said she's attended several Winterfest cook-offs, believed all the chowders were winners. "It's all good," she said. All those who tasted the entries were welcome to cast a ballot for their favorite chowder. Winterfest's mid-morning kick-off placed ice sculptors on Main Street and energetic children at the Northern Berkshire Early Intervention and Toy Library headquarters at 25 Marshall St.. By 11 a.m., over 60 people had joined the merriment at the toy library, said Mary Thigpen, a client services supervisor for the intervention agency. "And not many have left," she said. "The families really enjoy this." Afternoon events included horse-and-wagon rides along Main Street and special movie showings for children at the Western Gateway Heritage Park Visitor's Center. An evening Mayor's Skating Party was scheduled at the Viet Nam Veteran's Memorial skating rink. Chainsaws and chisels wielded by amateur ice artisans chinked and clattered against ice blocks for several hours as frozen water took form. A woman who identified herself as Walking Catamount worked diligently from a wheelchair and coaxed a feline shape out of an icy brick. "I'm making a cougar," she said. "You can say it's a big kitty with attitude." Sheri Simon of North Adams said that she was carving a Snoopy into shape in support of the Mill City Productions acting group. The company is planning to stage the musical "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" this spring. Simon has participated in previous Winterfest ice-sculpting events, and said the weather this time around was "perfect." She recalled past rain-soaked efforts as well as Winterfests that occurred during 40-to-50-degree temperatures. "This year it's just great," she said as few snow flurries tumbled from the sky. "People stop and talk, and this is such a wonderful event." There's little opportunity to maintain ice carving skills, she noted. "I actually only do this once a year," Simon said. "With ice sculpting, you don't get much chance to practice." Gramercy Bistro owner Sandy Smith praised the event from his station at the cook-off. "People come out, they visit the shops, they try the food," he said. "It's great."
Share
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Dalton Announces New Supplier for Energy Program

DALTON, Mass. – The Town of Dalton has signed a thirty-four month contract with a new supplier, First Point Power.
 
Beginning with the January 2026 meter reads, the Dalton Community Choice Power Supply Program will have a new rate of $0.13042 per kWh. The Program will also continue to offer an optional 100 percent green product, which is derived from National Wind Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), at a rate of $0.13142 per kWh.
 
For Dalton residents and businesses who are enrolled in the Town's Program, the current rate of $0.13849 per kWh will expire with the January 2026 meter reads and the new rate of $0.13042 per kWh will take effect. This represents a decrease of $5 per month on the supply side of the bill given average usage of 600 kWh. Additionally, this new rate is 3 percent lower than Eversource's Residential Basic Service rate of $0.13493 per kWh. Residents can expect to see an
average savings of $3 per month for the month of January 2026. Eversource's Basic Service rates
will change on Feb. 1, 2026.
 
Dalton launched its electricity program in January 2015 in an effort to develop an energy program that would be stable and affordable. From inception through June 2025, the Program has saved residents and small businesses over $1.7 million in electricity costs as compared to Eversource Basic Service.
 
It is important to note that no action is required by current participants. This change will be seen on the February 2026 bills. All accounts currently enrolled in the Program will remain with their current product offering and see the new rate and First Point Power printed under the "Supplier Services" section of their monthly bill.
 
The Dalton Community Choice Power Supply Program has no fees or charges. However, anyone switching from a contract with a third-party supplier may be subject to penalties or early termination fees charged by that supplier. Ratepayers should verify terms before switching.
 
View Full Story

More Stories

Sports
image description

Lee Executes Game Plan to Perfection in Quarter-Final Win

Sports
Sports
image description

Lenox Volleyball Reaches State's Final Four

Sports
Sports
image description

Mount Greylock Boys Win 3rd Straight Regional Crown

Sports
Sports
image description

Mount Greylock Girls Again Top Monson in Western Mass Final

Sports
Sports
image description

Lenox Sweeps Its Way to Western Mass Crown

Sports
Community News
image description

North Adams License Commission Sees Little Need for License...

Community News
Latest Stories
Previous Next

What's Trending?