Souped-Up Recipes : Professional and amateur chefs will put their chowders to the test at the farmers’ market cook-off.

The Market Lady knows exactly where she will be from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. today--chowing down at the certified farmers’ market in Oxnard’s Channel Islands Harbor.

Not only will she be able to pick fresh Ventura County crops for her own and her loved ones’ dining pleasure, she will also attend the gustatory event of the weekend, for free.

We’re talking about the Celebration of the Whales Chowder Cook-Off, with male and female contestants starting their Coleman stoves at 10 a.m.

Judging by three pro judges, plus members of the public who happen to be standing around sampling chowder, begins about noon. Best of all, free tasting for all comers begins about noon, too.

Be there or just clam up--which would leave more chowder for the rest of us to sample.

“The cook-off is being held smack in the middle of the farmers’ market,” said manager Mark Rochin. It will be hard to miss--just look for the covey of green stoves with cooks standing over them.

Entrants will hand out their recipes for New England, Manhattan or even Cajun-style chowder, while they chop and churn their concoctions. Both restaurateurs and amateur chowder chefs have entered.

Trying to three-peat this year will be Terry Foster of Oxnard, a Ventura County oil rig cook.

Here is Chef Terry’s award-winning New England-style chowder recipe from last year. It feeds an oil rig crew:

2 onions

1 head celery

3 carrots

4 Oxnard chiles

1 yellow bell pepper

3 green jalapenos

1/2 gallon fish

1/2 gallon heavy cream

3 cups potatoes

30 oysters

3 red jalapenos

10 cups corn

2 limes

Chop everything; you can even puree the oysters. Bring the first 10 ingredients to boil (with some water) and cook until done. Fry the last jalapenos and corn for garnish. Season to taste.

The Channel Islands farmers’ market is open-air on the west end of the harbor at 2810 S. Harbor Blvd.

Tip of the Week: There are new Oxnard-grown strawberries--five varieties, including Chandlers--at the reopened Simi Valley farmers’ market from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays at 2273 Tapo St. and the Channel Islands farmers market.