Garelick & Herbs was a winner in two categories of the “Great Westport Soup Contest:” Matthew Mandell, center, director of the Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce, joins Andrea Hunt, manager, and Jason Garelick, owner, at right, and at left, Juan O’Campo, soup maker, and Freddy Chimborazo, the head chef.

WESTPORT — Seven restaurants have been chosen “souper stars” of the local culinary scene.

The restaurants were selected by voters as winners in the “Great Westport Soup Contest,” sponsored by the Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce in March.

The winning Romanacci team: Ricci brothers Graziano and Maurizio, the restaurant owners, flank chef Oscar Campos and Mandell.

More than 1,000 ballots were cast in the month-long contest, which asked diners to choose the best soups ladled by 16 local restaurants and food outlets, organized by the Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce.

Winners in the seven categories of soup varieties include:

Best Chicken Soup: Romanacci

Best Vegetable Soup: Organic Market

Best Beef Soup: Garelick & Herbs

Best Matzoh Ball Soup: Garelick & Herbs

Best Asian Soup: Kawa Ni

Best Onion Soup: Rive Bistro

Best Chowder: The Whelk

Photo at left: Rive Bistro owner Eric Sierra, right, with Mandell. Right: Organic Market owner Charles Vosgian, left, with Mandell.

“We congratulate all of the participants of the contest and hope they all enjoyed this tasty promotion of Westport’s phenomenal restaurant scene,” Matthew Mandell, the chamber’s executive director, said in a statement announcing the contest winners.

The chamber, which over the last several has sponsored events to determine Westport’s favorite pizza, burgers and salads, next year plans the “Great Westport Sandwich Contest,” Mandell said.

The Whelk owner Massimo Tullio, center. with chef Zach Hinman and Mandell.
Kawa Ni’s winning team with Mandell.

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