The biggest argument in chowder history? The battle of Manhattan vs. New England. It got so heated that in 1939, a Maine legislator actually proposed a bill to outlaw Manhattan-style chowder. Yes, a law.
They wanted to ban tomatoes from clam chowder. Imagine a soup causing legislation. That’s how seriously people take this stuff.
Today, we say: eat both. Be a chowder polyglot. Your taste buds will thank you.
The secret ingredient you’re missing
Every good chowder has a secret weapon: salt pork or bacon. It’s not just for flavor. It adds that little bit of umami that makes you say, “What IS that?!”
You fry the pork first. That renders out fat. Then you cook your onions and celery in that fat. That single step is non-negotiable.
Clam Chowder With Bacon
Skipping it? That’s like making a peanut butter sandwich without jelly. Sad and wrong.
