SOUPer Bowl Saturday Promises Pots of Fun

Football fans can have Sunday. In Port Washington, the fiercest competition kicks off Saturday at , an annual soup-tasting event sponsored by the .

Sixteen contenders will try to take the title from 2010 victor , which captured both the “People’s Choice” and “Judges Choice” awards with its turkey chili.

Ayhan’s manager Hal Linden, who helps organize the blind-taste testing event, is looking to retain the title, competing this year with a secret soup he claims is a winner: his Polish grandmother’s beloved soup recipe.

The soup isn’t sold at the Market, but if it takes home the prize again, look for it to join the three soups offered daily.

“I have no control of the votes,” said Linden, a joking reference to his role as organizer. The competition is a blind-taste test; the judges won’t know which restaurant prepares the seventeen entries.

“The food speaks for itself,” said Linden of his entry. “But if we win again, people will say the fix is in,” Linden added with a laugh. Ayhan’s Market was also the 2009 “Judges Choice” winner for its Tex Mex Chili.

Organizers are expecting between 300 and 400 people to turn out to be tasters. Pricing for the event, $7 for adults, $3 for kids, is based on the touchdown and field goal. Proceeds benefit the Chamber, which is donating a portion to the food pantry.

Competing soups include: steak and potato, Greek lemon, tomato bisque with mozzarella, lobster bisque and shrimp and andouille sausage gumbo. Look for three versions of New England clam chowder to go head-to-head as well as two Chicken noodle soups.

The folks over at first-time competitor say they are “confident” in their contender. “We do it every year at the Oyster festival in Oyster Bay,” said chef Bob Baez. Again citing the blind-taste test, Baez declined to name his soup but did reveal his winning ingredients: smoked pork and white truffle oil.

Taste tasters take note: Wild Honey doesn’t typically offer soup on its menu; instead it presents it as a complimentary mid-course amuse-bouche, a small hors d’œuvre that is not on the menu. Saturday’s competition also has six other new contestants including: , , , , and the . For a complete list of contestants visit www.pwguide.com.

Soup-lovers, prepare to wield your spoons from noon to 3 p.m. at the .