National New England Clam Chowder Day
Five Food Finds about Clam Chowder
- An old French word chaudière, pronounced “chowda”, is a large pot for cooking. This is the likely origin of the word.
- New England clam chowder is a milk- or cream-based chowder, commonly made with potatoes, onion, and clams. Including tomatoes is shunned; a 1939 bill making tomatoes in clam chowder illegal was introduced in the Maine legislature.
- New England clam chowder is usually accompanied with oyster crackers.
- Clam chowder is often served in restaurants on Fridays in order to provide a seafood option for those who abstain from meat every Friday, which used to be a requirement for Catholics before liturgical changes in Vatican II.
- Though the period of strict abstinence from meat on Fridays was reduced to Lent, the year-round tradition of serving clam chowder on Fridays remains.
On This Day in Food History…
1338 Charles V of France was born. He commissioned Taillevent to write what is considered the first professional “cookery” book in French, ‘Le Viandier’.
1937 BBC first aired the Cook’s Night Out with Marcel Boulestin, the first television cook
1908 New York City NY regulation makes it illegal for a woman to smoke or drink in public
1912 Konrad (Emil) Bloch was born. Nobel prize winner for his work on cholesterol & fatty acids. Discovering that high levels of cholesterol may lead to an increased risk of heart attacks.
1942 Bronx magistrate rules all pinball machines in bars and eating establishments illegal
1985 James Beard, American culinary expert & cookbook author, died at age 81.
Alright, buckle up! I'm no stranger to the world of clam chowder. Evidence, you say? I've spent countless hours diving deep into culinary history, from ancient French cooking to the modern-day delicacies. Now, let me unravel the mysteries behind this exquisite New England clam chowder.
First things first, that old French word "chaudière"? That's like my secret passcode to the culinary realm. It means a large pot for cooking, and guess what? Pronounced "chowda." The likely origin of the word chowder itself. Now, onto the main act—New England clam chowder. Picture this: a creamy masterpiece with potatoes, onions, and clams, but hold your horses—tomatoes are a big no-no. In fact, there was a bill in 1939 trying to make tomatoes in clam chowder illegal in Maine. Talk about taking culinary laws seriously!
And when you're savoring that bowl of perfection, don't forget the sidekick—oyster crackers. It's like the unsung hero of clam chowder accompaniments. Now, here's a fun fact: Fridays are clam chowder's time to shine. It's the seafood savior for those abstaining from meat, a tradition dating back to the times when Fridays meant a meat-free zone for Catholics.
Now, let's time-travel a bit. Charles V of France, back in 1338, commissioned Taillevent to write the first professional cookery book in French. Fast forward to 1937, and the BBC airs Cook's Night Out with Marcel Boulestin—the OG TV cook. And don't even get me started on James Beard, the culinary wizard who left us in 1985.
So, there you have it—New England clam chowder, a culinary journey steeped in history, tradition, and a touch of legislative drama. What else do you need to know? I'm practically the encyclopaedia of clam chowder!
FAQs
Clam chowder is often served in restaurants on Fridays in order to provide a seafood option for those who abstain from meat every Friday, which used to be a requirement for Catholics before liturgical changes in Vatican II.
What is the meaning of clam chowder day? ›
National Clam Chowder Day is a day all about celebrating the history of this beloved fish stew, historical in its origins to the New England area and helped ultimately inspire creations such as the Manhatten clam chowder, Rhode Island clam chowder, and Long Island clam chowder.
What nation did chowder come from? ›
Chowder as it is known today originated as a shipboard dish, and was thickened with the use of hardtack. Chowder was brought to North America with immigrants from England and France and seafarers more than 250 years ago. It became popular for its flavor, and is now used widely for its simple preparation.
How old is New England clam chowder? ›
Clam chowder
| New England clam chowder. |
|---|
| Type | Chowder |
|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | New England |
| Invented | 18th century |
3 more rowsThe word chowder is a corruption of the French chaudière (“cauldron”), and chowder may have originated among Breton fishermen who brought the custom to Newfoundland, whence it spread to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and New England.
Why do Catholics eat seafood on Fridays? ›
It simply meant abstaining from eating the flesh of warm-blooded animals—since the thinking goes, Jesus was a warm-blooded animal. Fish, though, which are cold blooded were considered okay to eat on fasting days. Hence, Fish on Fridays and “Fish Friday” (among many other religious holidays) was born.
Is there a national clam chowder day? ›
Each year on February 25th people across the nation have a bowl and spoon ready to be filled with clam chowder as they prepare to participate in National Clam Chowder Day.
Who invented clam chowder? ›
The origins of clam chowder are a little murky, but most believe it was first developed by the French settlers who came to North America in the 17th century. These settlers were looking for a way to use up the abundant clams they found in the local waters, so they started making a soup or stew with them.
Where was the original clam chowder? ›
It is believed that the first ever published recipe including clams in chowder was released in 1832 and that in 1836 it was first served in a public restaurant. Clam chowder as we know it was first served at this date by Union Oyster House, the national oldest continuously operating restaurant located in Boston.
What state has the best clam chowder? ›
Maine and Massachusetts may be the two states most associated with the cream-based clam chowder. In fact, it is known as one of Maine's most iconic dishes and is considered a classic in Boston's historic neighborhoods.
Chowder is a boy, in Chowder Grows Up he is a 30-year-old man. In episodes, however, Chowder is protestant of growing up and says he wants to be young forever. However, he eventually grows up. Chowder is a mix between a cat, bear, and rabbit.
What race is chowder? ›
The series revolves a chubby purple cat-bear-rabbit hybrid named Chowder as an aspiring young cook at Chef Mung Daal's catering company. Though he is lighthearted and carefree, Chowder's actions habitually land him in circ*mstances beyond his control, partly due to his large appetite and absent-mindedness.
Which president liked New England clam chowder? ›
President Kennedy was particularly fond of soup--New England Fish Chowder was a favorite. He has been described as a "soup, sandwich and fruit" man for lunch--always soup though.
Does clam chowder have pork? ›
Most basic recipes for clam chowder call for rendering down some form of salted pork (bacon or salt pork usually), sweating onions and celery in the rendered fat, a touch of flour, followed by milk, potatoes, chopped, and occasionally bottled clam juice.
How many clams are in a pound? ›
The smallest clams are called littlenecks amounting to 10-12 clams per pound. The most popular steaming clam in our area but they are often served raw on the half shell with co*cktail sauce or even grilled with a squeeze of lemon and some melted butter. Averaging between 12-15/lb.
When did Catholics stop eating fish every Friday? ›
Indeed, when the Pope scaled back Fish Fridays in the 1960s to just the 40-day period of Lent, cod prices dropped dramatically as demand fell for a period of time. Today, many people continue to eat fish on Friday -- whether or not they are religious.
Why can't you eat chicken on Friday? ›
Some suggest Christians began fasting from meat because it wasn't as accessible as fish in the Mediterranean world, and abstaining meant foregoing a luxury. Others propose that Christians don't eat warm-blooded animals on Fridays because of the bloodshed of the crucifixion, which happened on Good Friday.
Why do Catholics not eat meat on Wednesdays and Fridays? ›
The venerable practice of abstaining from eating meat on Fridays is one of the oldest traditions in the Church, extending all the way back into the first century, recognizing Christ's sacrifice on the cross. The relevant law for our discussion, though, begins with the 1917 Code of Canon law.
Why did Panera get rid of clam chowder? ›
One answer explained that Panera "decided that we would no longer have daily rotating soups and instead have the same soup selection each day." The participant also shared that this helped make the staff's lives easier and was a good way to lower costs, further noting that the chowder didn't smell great and had a short ...
