What is National Clam Chowder Day?
People around the country have a bowl and spoon set to be filled with clam chowder as they prepare to celebrate National Clam Chowder Day on February 25th.
In its simplest form, a clam chowder is a soup or stew that contains clams or fish. The Manhattan clam chowder has tomatoes, and the most common form of chowder includes milk or cream as well as potatoes.
A little bit of discussion has been offered about the source of the word "chowder" in the United States. "Chaudiere" is the French word for cauldron. The English word "jowter" refers to a fish peddler. Both are suspects of possible origins.
It is common to find diced potatoes, onions (often sautéed with pork or bacon drippings) and celery in chowder, as well as the clams.
Following is a rundown of the most common clam chowder variants.
