PrintNew England Clam Chowder: Awesome or gross?
I love New England clam chowder and have probably been scarfing it down ever since I became bipedal. The creamy soup with bits of potato and clam and whatever just fills my belly with warm chunky joy.
My co-worker on the other hand (*cough*RAPHAEL*cough*) hates clam chowder. Doesn't understand the perfect marriage that is creamy stuff with clammy stuff. Why must he hate the chowder? Whyyy?
It's alright to not like certain foods. Hell, I don't like alcohol or coffee (please don't hate me). But I just want to reassure myself that lots of people out there enjoy New England clam chowder as much as I do.
Mm, chowder.
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47 Comments:
gross.
raphael at 3:31PM on 11/12/07
Be reassured Robyn, your *cooo-wooorker* is in the minority...
I think...
I hope!
Kathy_yl at 3:33PM on 11/12/07
awesome.
LoCo at 3:34PM on 11/12/07
Awesome!
schnitzel at 3:39PM on 11/12/07
Awesome!
Alm25 at 3:42PM on 11/12/07
Love it!
Ann Fisher at 3:48PM on 11/12/07
I used to think of clam chowder as scary filmy milk broth filled with chewy bits of snot.
but uhhhh...now I like it.
bisbee at 3:55PM on 11/12/07
I totally love NECC. It's got to be up there amongst the best comfort foods. Few things warm the soul like a big bowl on an icy night. (And for Heaven's sake, don't forget the bread.)
I do, however, also love Manhattan clam chowder. For years, I didn't know that clam chowder came in the "white" variety...LOL.
Lament not, Robyn...There are plenty of us here to sing backup in your chorus praising NECC.
chiff0nade at 4:02PM on 11/12/07
I'm a New England girl so this may be scandalous, and I acknowledge that the right hands NECC can be sublime, but your run-of-the-mill NECC is a hot, milky mess with unidentifiably clammy rubberband bits.
Jenn Smith at 4:12PM on 11/12/07
Bring on the chowder! I am an equal opportunity clam chowder eater.
Library Lady at 4:13PM on 11/12/07
Awesome! And I need those little oyster crackers to go with.
VerasTastyFreeze at 4:18PM on 11/12/07
I'm with Raphael. Not into it. Sorry.
Adam Kuban at 4:25PM on 11/12/07
I grew up on a farm in Kansas and didn't discover Clam Chowder until I was in my twentys. I love it!!!!!!!!! I read somewhere that it's illegal to serve Manhattan Clam Chowder in NE?
NanaJoie at 4:27PM on 11/12/07
Clam chowder that is thick and creamy is the BEST! Nana Joie, I think it probably is illegal to serve Manhatten style in New England, and it's not nearly as tasty.
Lavendergirl at 5:01PM on 11/12/07
No thanks...
JEP at 5:13PM on 11/12/07
Awesome - I've had in two forms. The most common is very thick, glutinous and best when crammed with clams or fish and potatoes. The other, however, I've only had at Champlain's in Point Judith, RI. It is basically clam broth (real, intense pure clam broth) with super-super fresh clams and small bits of potato and then cream added. It is terrific but probably dependent on getting the clams right off the adjoining clamboats.
HippoParade at 5:31PM on 11/12/07
I grew up eating potato soup, so when my mom first made clam chowder, to me it was a natural transition, and I thought it was really good!
I had the opportunity to judge a clam chowder cookoff a few years ago, and none compared to my mom's!
misseditor at 5:54PM on 11/12/07
Good New England Clam Chowder is one of the best things in the world. Conversely, bad NECC is one of the worst.
chasgoose at 6:34PM on 11/12/07
I was born in Massachusetts. I like clam chowder for breakfast. :) But please avoid the canned stuff.
It's soup weather now, so I might have to attempt a chowder with plenty of clams, potatoes, and big chunks of vegetables. Yum.
KarynMC at 6:40PM on 11/12/07
one of the best foods ever - especially if served in a warm bread bowl :)
ceforrester at 7:00PM on 11/12/07
Love it.
NSW at 7:52PM on 11/12/07
I agree, one of the best foods ever. I just wished I lived in a part of the country that knew how to make the stuff. I swear restaurants here serve it out of the can. And being in the Midwest, clams are pricey, so I hate to waste $$$ on clams to try and make my own chowder, only to find it sub-par. Anyone have an awesome recipe guaranteed to please?
ErikaWaz at 10:22PM on 11/12/07
I LOVE New England Clam Chowder. So much deliciousness in a single bowl. Awesome.
rockykay at 8:46AM on 11/13/07
I like most clam chowder, but my Mom makes a New England version with no added clam juice. Her clam chowder has won over many anti-chowder people. It ends up tasting like a creamy potato, bacon and clam soup.
smorgen at 8:49AM on 11/13/07
Awesome, and I agree w/ KarynMC... the canned stuff is no good. Too many potatoes, too few clams, strange texture throughout.
Manhattan chowder is ok, but nothing compares to NECC. I feel like Manhattan clam chowder should be called something else, like maybe Clamato soup. The two types are barely related.
Kerosena at 9:25AM on 11/13/07
i'm a huge fan of Rhode Island clam chowder, just about the same as New England but with a clear broth. Total bliss!! If you ever get to Mystic Ct. try the clam shacks chowder with some clam fritters, just dip the fritter in the chowder and die a happy death ;)
huney_bumper at 9:53AM on 11/13/07
Love NECC, having found it when it existed in Missouri only at Howard Johnson. Not fond of Manhattan-style, but have eaten no-milk, no-tomato versions going down the East Coast quite happily. Strangely, though, I much prefer my clam sauce for pasta to be the red stuff rather than clams-garlic-parsley-oil. Mr. Meatloaf politely points out this contradictory behavior and sighs.
lemons at 9:57AM on 11/13/07
...run-of-the-mill NECC is a hot, milky mess with unidentifiably clammy rubberband bits....
Way to almost get me busted laughing at work, Jenn. :D
chiff0nade at 9:59AM on 11/13/07
NECC is delicious, and best found at Gilberts Chowder House in Portland Maine. Though there are plenty of fine establisments that serve really good NECC, I think Gilberts is the best.
artjax at 10:14AM on 11/13/07
I just can't get into NECC. Not my thing.
kplays at 11:27AM on 11/13/07
Awesome! This is the only soup other than Cream of Crab (I'm a Marylander...what can I say) that I have trouble passing up, being Vegan and all.
So with that said...everyone needs to enjoy it so I can enjoy it too.
Vicariously of course!
StudentStomach at 11:31AM on 11/13/07
I've never had good New England clam chowder (I'm sorry, that NECC is just to close to EVOO for me to be able to type without wincing). Last time I had it, the clams had the texture of chewed gum. I think I saw the idea they were going for, and it seems good on paper, but alas...
I'm with EricaWaz. Getting fresh clams in the Midwest is enough of a challenge, so I'd hate to batch 'em out on crummy chowder. Anyone have a tried and true recipe that they've nailed down?
corycm at 11:49AM on 11/13/07
In the past I couldn't stand it. Now I'll eat it simply because I like creamy soups...but I'll take potato soup, cream of broccoli, or cream of mushroom over NECC any day.
stumbler02 at 12:24PM on 11/13/07
I not only love it, I make it. Its all in the presentation.
JerzeeTomato at 1:17PM on 11/13/07
I love it....I can't eat it anymore because I'm a lactard now. :(
CandyAddictSera at 1:25PM on 11/13/07
It can taste at times like wall-plaster and look at times like dog barf.
Have you tried the version here , Raphael?
Good clam chowder can be dependent on geographic location if you are out of the city and zip code and the ready availability of decent beer or white wine if you are in the city.
Karen Resta at 1:37PM on 11/13/07
Lactard! OMG... I love it... that's my new word of the day. I'm sending it to my dad right now. He's one, too.
But he's okay with Lactaid milk. Maybe you could make some chowder that way, CandyAddict?
LoCo at 1:37PM on 11/13/07
When she was good she was very, very good. When she was bad she was horrid.
Colorado Jim at 1:37PM on 11/13/07
Love New England Clam Chowder, simply love it. It's one of my favorite soups to make too. Although I do usually end up throwing in a variety of other seafood, but the thought is still there.
Cheyanne at 3:05PM on 11/13/07
Any opinions about Oyster Stew? There was a restaurant in lower Manhattan across the street from the Woolworth Building that has long since closed - best Oyster Stew I ever had.
chiff0nade at 3:21PM on 11/13/07
I love good New England Clam Chowder -- which was great when we lived in the Cambridge MA area because we'd go to Legal Seafood or some other place and have a heck of a good time. When I was a kid in NYC, we'd go to Paddy's near the current Madison Square Garden, and it was still around when I was in college and would go to games there or science fiction conventions in midtown. It's long gone, I believe. In Seattle now you have to work a bit more to find a really satisfactory one.
Stushi at 3:29PM on 11/13/07
Raphael should be taken to Fraunces Tavern also to try the clam chowder. If he doesn't like it, he can continue to drink beer while everyone else eats.
A Clam Chowder Prowl. Yes. You guys should do it.
Karen Resta at 3:47PM on 11/13/07
I love it! Even the over salted junk that comes out of a can. I'll scarf it down like there's no problem.
dana123 at 4:13PM on 11/13/07
I love clam chowder! I especially with fresh clams still in the shell. Pain to eat with all the soupy goodness dirtying my fingers but something about the presentation really makes it special.
One day I should try making a "rose" clam chowder.
ag3208 at 5:27PM on 11/13/07
awesome.
secreteater at 5:42PM on 11/13/07
Cream + Bacon + Clam + Potato
What's not to love? But NEVER from a can!!!
Deb07 at 5:56PM on 11/13/07
Awesome. Rock On!
sweetthang1018 at 10:42PM on 11/13/07