ROCKPORT — It's a given at Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport: Pay day comes every two weeks. And on pay day, the scent of fish chowder weaves its way under the noses of everyone in the vicinity.

One week, the soup ladle scraped the bottom remnants of the pot long before hungry latecomers tasted Chef Mike Pellilo's lovingly-made haddock and red potato chowder. This popular chowder is frequently requested for catered luncheons. Others purchase and reserve the chowder for dinners at home.

"If we didn't have fish chowder on pa yday," said Barbara, a nutrition worker nearby, "we'd all unite against him."

Pellilo added: "I wouldn't come to work if they didn't have it. I'd be crucified in a corner somewhere."

Now he lends his assistance, his fish chowder, to the Rockland Fire Department and its Chili/Chowder Cookoff for Muscular Dystrophy, set for Sunday, March 8, 2 to 5 p.m., at Trackside in Rockland.

The event is being organized by the Rockland Professional Firefighters Local 1584 chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

The Chili/Chowder Cookoff is in its fourth year.

"So far, these events have raised more than $5,000 for MDA," said organizer Carl Anderson.

This year, 12 dining establishments and six individuals bring forth their best stews for comparison.

When asked what makes his chowder unique, Pellilo said: "It's a hands-on chowder. When you cook something you need to respect it, and I respect it. If I can make it the way I would want it, then I make it so anyone else would want it. I put some loving into it."

Pellilo's cooking career has stretched 45 years now, the same number of years he's been married to his wife, Marcia. They have lived in Searport for the past eight years and have three grown children.

Entering the Navy in 1970, Pellilo was assigned to the department responsible for satisfying 1,000 crew members three times a day on the submarine tender U.S.S. Fulton. The submarine had its own squadron of fast-attack submarines that came up beside for resupply.

"That ship could literally put a submarine back together again," Pellilo said.

The Navy taught Pellilo everything from proper knife usage to baking. It was a strict culinary program, taught to him in the military lexicon and under the scrutiny of Vietnam-era officers. Though Pellilo never went to Vietnam, he does have stories of being stationed on a deserted island, halfway between Greece and Spain, with his ship of 1,000.

"Those guys were crazy," he remembers.

Chef Pellilo learned how to cook creatively for the masses. After his three years and 11 months of service, Pellilo started his civilian career of lifting the moods of patients and workers with ingredients much tastier than the conventional bland 'hospital food.'

In the midst of hospital jobs, he also had a stint as chef for the bigwigs of the Bluefish baseball team in Bridgeport, Connecticut. They were the ones with the fancy suites at the baseball stadium, the ones with their own private kitchen and wait staff.

As he cooked, he experimented. As he experimented, he entered contests. He placed second at a Camden Windjammer Weekend’s cook-off. He has also won national contests sponsored by Kraft, and other brand name companies.

This weekend, his chowder will be tested against the Lobster Shack, Trackside Restaurant, Thomaston Café, Eclipse, Cappy's Chowder House, Athen's, Comida, and the Region 8 Culinary Arts department, Which Please, Park Street Grille, and 3 Crow.

The individual category includes Rockland Fire Department's A-shift, a Rockland historian, and a team of two brothers.

The public is invited to taste, enjoy and judge the entries from 2 to 5 p.m., Sunday, March 8, during the event at Trackside.

Winners will be chosen in the professional category, featuring local restaurants, as well as in the individual category. Anyone interested in entering a chili and/or chowder for consideration should contact Carl Anderson at 831-9323 or via email at canderson@ci.rockland.me.us.

The cost is $20 per entry with all proceeds benefitting the MDA.

Along with tasty chili and chowder there also will be a 50/50 raffle and local 1584 T-shirts on sale.

Admission for folks interested in attending the benefit is $10 at the door with proceeds going to the MDA. A ballot is included with admission to choose the best chili and best chowder.

MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education.