Two Somers Point restaurants received the top awards for their New England Clam Chowders at Atlantic Christian School’s 2023 Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off Benefit held in the school gym on February 4. Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar, pictured at left, won first place in the “Chef’s Super Soup Award,” and Sal’s Cafe, pictured at right, won first place in the “People’s Choice Golden Spoon Award.” Some 400 people filled the school gym to taste delicious signature soups from 18 area restaurants and then voted for their favorite soup for the People’s Choice Golden Spoon Award. Chef Joe Massaglia of Mama Mia’s Ristorante in Marmora chose his favorite soup for the Chef’s Super Soup Award.

Coming in second place for the Chef’s Award was B.F. Mazzeo in Northfield, with its Butternut Squash Soup, and Chick-fil-A Fire Road received third place for its Tortilla Soup. For the Golden Spoon Award, Towne & Country Cafe came in second place with its Tomato Basil Soup, and Gregory’s Restaurant and Bar placed third.

For B.F. Mazzeo and Chick-fil-A Fire Road this was their first time competing in the Cook-Off. This is the third time that Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar has received the Chef’s Super Soup Award, with prior wins in 2018 and 2023. Sal’s Cafe is also now a three-peat winner, previously receiving the People’s Choice Golden Spoon Award in 2017 and 2022.

The Bowls of Hope showcased 18 restaurants and chefs in and around Atlantic County serving up their specialty soups and competing for the awards. Atlantic Christian high school students were among the some 50 student and staff volunteers who helped serve the soups and worked behind the scenes in the kitchen, with set up and clean up, selling tickets, and more.

The 18 restaurants and chefs who participated were: Atlantic City Rescue Mission Kitchen (Atlantic City); B.F. Mazzeo (Northfield); Carluccio’s (Northfield); Charlie’s Bar & Restaurant (Somers Point); Chick-fil-A Fire Road (Egg Harbor Township); Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar (Somers Point); Jing Sushi House (Somers Point); Juliano’s Pub & Grill (Egg Harbor Township); Maurizio’s Pizzeria Express (Egg Harbor Township); Mays Landing Diner (Mays Landing); Mia’s Café (Mays Landing); Root Cellar Tavern (Dorothy); Sal’s Café (Somers Point); Sana & Sadia’s Mediterranean Bistro (Egg Harbor Township); Sofia Restaurant (Margate); Stir It Up Catering (Northfield); Towne & Country Café (Egg Harbor Township); and The Windjammer Café-Bar-Grille (Somers Point).

Thank you to the 11 generous sponsors that helped make the benefit fundraiser a success — 3’R Premium Commercial Cleaning Services; American Church Group of New Jersey; B.F. Mazzeo; Chick-fil-A Fire Road; Clayton’s Self Storage; Formica Freitag Bakery; Fortress Financial; HS Restoration and Cleaning Service; Olympic Physical Therapy; ServPro of Egg Harbor/Ventnor City; and Texas Roadhouse.

All funds raised from ticket sales and sponsorships for the Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off, now in its 10th year, are benefiting the Atlantic City Rescue Mission and Atlantic Christian School. Many of those attending the event also brought cans of soup and other non-perishable items for the school’s food drive to benefit the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Southern Branch.

7th grader Nino Miranda was recognized during the evening for winning first place in a Bowls of Hope Video Contest for creating a video to help promote the event. Two runners-up finalists in the video contest also were recognized — 11th grader Zachary Fosbenner and 6th grader Jennyfer Loiza-Riveros.

We are also grateful to a number of parents who donated desserts, and to Greate Bay Country Club for providing high top tables for our guests. Thank you also to Chef Massaglia, host of the “Joe’s Table for Two” WOND Radio program and Bill Link of the Truth That Rocks Bookstore for helping promote the event, and to photographer and ACS grandparent Gail Crafton of AC Photo for donating her services.