The Corsican Cafe? and Chowder House, a restaurant on Mechanic Street in Freeport, not only entered the Chowdah Challenge at the Freeport Fall Festival for the first time this year, but also owner/chef Robin Wade walked away with one of the most coveted prizes.

Wade won the People’s Choice Award for the Corsican’s signature haddock and clam chowder, which was judged in the seafood chowder class. Ten restaurants competed for the People’s Choice Award – judged by people who paid $10 for a sampling – and the Judges Award, in the categories of clam and seafood chowders.

Wade, in her 50s, grew up in Bristol, N.H., but she’s a third-generation summer resident of Bustins Island in Casco Bay. She and her husband, Ed, who came from New Jersey in 1977, have lived in South Freeport for 25 years.

“My brother, Hugh Wade, and I moved to Freeport in 1985 and we opened the Corsican in 1986 with my brother-in-law, Jay Thomas, and our sister, Randall Thomas,” Robin Wade said. “The successful partnership endured 20 years. My husband, Ed Berg, and I bought the partners’ interests in 2007 and have owned the restaurant together since. Our 27-year-old son, Nate Briggs, is our head chef and does a marvelous job manning the kitchen and would like to be the next owner.”

Kudos also go to nephew-in-law, Tom Maurier, the dining room manager and head waiter, Wade said.

She declined to give out the recipe for her award-winning seafood chowder, but did say there was no “secret ingredient.”

“I can say we’ve been perfecting it for the past 30 years,” Wade said.

Wade talked about chowders and other topics with the Tri-Town Weekly.

Q: After all this time, you decide to enter the Chowdah Challenge and you win. How about that? How’d you happen to enter?

A: This is the first time we entered the Chowdah Challenge so we weren’t sure what to expect. More than $4,000 was raised in support of Freeport Community Services. The People’s Choice Award went to The Corsican Cafe and Chowder House. We feel proud to have been part of the Chowdah Challenge. Even though the bragging rights have been very nice, this was about raising funds for Freeport Community Services and the important work they do in Freeport.

Q: What’s special about your haddock/clam chowder?

A: We knew we had a very delicious chowder, our signature haddock and clam chowder, which we have been told repeatedly by our customers is the best chowder “evah.”

Q: Tell us about the challenges of pulling the win off in the conditions that day, outside L.L. Bean.

A: They had us set up on the porch at the Home Store of L.L. Bean. The biggest challenge of the day was trying to keep the chowder hot. The 10 tables represented in the challenge all were using electric warmers, which needed to be set on high because it was cool and there was a 20-mile-an-hour breeze blowing. The electrical system at the Home Store could not handle the electric load and suddenly we were without means to heat the chowder. Fortunately, the staff at the Corsican was able to bring hot chowder to the venue, from our location on Mechanic Street. The event was very well attended and we used all of the sample cups provided. Approximately 500, 2-ounce portions were served by each competitor. Freeport Community Services had to stop selling tickets because we were out of cups.

Q: You’ve been in business for 30 years. Tell us about all the changes in that time.

A: As we embark on our 30th year of business, we look to the future with confidence and pride.

Robin Wade, right, owner of The Corsican Café and Chowder House on Mechanic Street in Freeport, holds the People’s Choice Award for the seafood chowder she made for the Chowdah Challenge, during the Freeport Fall Festival on Oct. 3. With her is her friend, Faith Baker, who helped out during the event.Courtesy photo