Foodie Friday — New England Clam Chowder

The scene: California, 1983. Scrawny Singaporean Chinese child on a package tour of the USA with her parents. Tries a bowl of New England Clam Chowder and falls in love with soup forever. Saltine crackers add just that little extra bit to perfection. Child orders New England Clam Chowder at every opportunity. 20+ years later, I still choose the soup any time I see it on a menu.

That’s the story of my love affair with New England Clam Chowder, basically. I have tended to favour Campbell’s condensed version for home microwaving, and even for canned it’s pretty good. I like the clams, but LOVE the potatoes.

It’s pretty much impossible that I will ever use this recipe (unless I can persuade Neil’s mum to give it a go), so I shall just salivate from afar.

• 26 Jan 2007

• Thinking