Devour! Chowder Smackdown

Grab a spoon. This is serious business. The Devour! Chowder Smackdown returns just in time for Devour! The Sea, bringing acclaimed visiting chefs Ned Bell and Charlotte Langley with some of the region’s top culinary talent, Martin Ruiz Salvador and Stéphane Levac, together for a battle of the bowls. Taste your way through eight wildly different seafood chowders, from traditional takes to bold reinventions, then cast your vote alongside our panel of judges. Bragging rights are on the line, and only one chef can be crowned Devour! Chowder Champion.

$40 per person | Includes samples of 8 seafood chowders
Presented by IPC Securities

Participating Chef/Restaurants So Far:

Ned Bell

Ned Bell is a celebrated Canadian chef, sustainable seafood advocate, educator, and keynote speaker who has built his career championing healthy oceans, waterways, and local food systems. Born in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, Ned brings energy and purpose to his work as a chef and sustainability leader. He is co-owner of Hatch Hospitality, Creative Advisor for Okanagan College’s forthcoming Centre for Food, Wine and Tourism, Culinary Director at Planetary Health, a Buy BC Champion, and Board Member and Co-Chair of Sustainability for the Chefs’ Table Society. Through consulting, advocacy, and education, Ned inspires positive change across Canada’s culinary landscape. @nedbell

Charlotte Langley

Chef Charlotte Langley is a classically trained chef, entrepreneur, and sustainable seafood advocate raised on Prince Edward Island. With more than two decades in food and hospitality, she founded Scout Canning before launching Langley Foods Inc., a portfolio of purpose-driven food brands anchored by Nice Cans—her MSC-certified premium canned seafood label. Charlotte also serves as the Marine Stewardship Council’s Canadian Chef Ambassador, championing sustainable and equitable seafood on stages across North America. Her philosophy of “delicious responsibility” brings exceptional taste and responsible sourcing together. Her first cookbook, Nice Cans: A Boldly Delicious Cookbook, arrives in spring 2027. @chefcharlottelangley @justnicecans

Stéphane Levac

Chef Stéphane Levac is an Indigenous chef with roots in M’Chigeeng First Nation, originally from Sturgeon Falls, Ontario. Now based in Nova Scotia, his cooking is deeply connected to heritage, place and the stories behind each ingredient. As Executive Chef at Maritime Express Cider Co. in Kentville, Stéphane brings together locally sourced ingredients, bold flavours and a creative approach that honours tradition while looking forward. A passionate forager and storyteller, he sees food as a powerful way to connect people, culture and community. Whether in the kitchen or exploring the landscape, Stéphane’s cooking reflects curiosity, respect and a strong sense of place. @chefstephanelevac

Martin Ruiz Salvador 

Award-winning Chef Martin Ruiz Salvador is a defining force in Lunenburg’s culinary scene. Nova Scotia-born and classically trained at Le Cordon Bleu, Martin honed his craft in MICHELIN-starred kitchens in Ireland and France before returning home. Today, he and his wife and business partner, Sylvie, are behind five celebrated seafood-forward Lunenburg establishments: Beach Pea Kitchen & Bar, Salt Shaker Deli & Inn, South Shore Fish Shack, Half Shell Oyster Bar, and Bar Salvador. His cooking combines classical technique with exceptional local ingredients, showcasing Nova Scotia seafood and seasonal produce alongside Mediterranean influences and flavours inspired by his Spanish heritage. @martinruizsalvador @thebeachpealunenburg @thehalfshelllunenburg @barsalvadorlunenburg @southshorefishshacklunenburg @saltshakerdelilunenburg