National New England Clam Chowder Day

Chowder is defined by Merriam-Webster as "a soup or stew of seafood (such as clams or fish) usually made with milk or tomatoes, salt pork, onions, and other vegetables (such as potatoes)." Clam is the most widespread type of chowder, and likely started being made because of the relative ease it took to harvest clams. There are several regional variations of clam chowder, all being endemic to coastal areas. Manhattan, New England, and Rhode Island are the most common types, with others being Delaware, Hatteras Island, Long Island, Minorcan, New Jersey, Puget Sound, Rocky Point, San Francisco, and Cabo. Today, on National New England Clam Chowder Day, New England clam chowder is celebrated, cooked, and enjoyed.

New England clam chowder has a creamy base made of heavy cream, light cream, or whole milk. Potatoes, onions, and celery are common ingredients, as are bacon, bacon drippings, or salt pork. The chowder is sometimes accompanied by oyster crackers, which may be crushed and added to thicken it. New England clam chowder was introduced to colonial America by settlers from Nova Scotia—or perhaps by the French or British—and was common in the New England region by the 1700s. It was being served at Ye Olde Union Oyster House in Boston by 1836, and it is referenced in Herman Melville's Moby Dick, published in 1851. Today New England clam chowder is found all over the United States, but is still most popular in the Northeast, particularly in Maine and Massachusetts. It also often accompanies Friday night fish frys in Wisconsin, and is served in bread bowls in San Francisco, where it is known as San Francisco clam chowder.

How to Observe National New England Clam Chowder Day

Have clam chowder at a restaurant or another establishment, or make it at home. You could have it at a nearby restaurant, but if you can travel, perhaps you could have it at a restaurant known for serving it, such as the Union Oyster House. If you live on the coast, you could even gather your own clams to use to make homemade clam chowder. You could serve your chowder in a bread bowl or have it with oyster crackers.

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