What Kind of New England Clam Chowder Is This?

Last week we went out for lunch at a new restaurant that opened here in New England. I spotted the “New England Clam Chowder” on the menu and of course I wanted to give it a try.

The meal looked great.

Photo: a meal in a restaurant
Source: Thomas Jay Kemp

And of course, they also brought the clam chowder.

Photo: a cup of clam chowder
Source: Thomas Jay Kemp

I asked, “Is this the New England Clam Chowder?”
“Yes,” I was assured.
“But, it’s brown and it doesn’t taste like clam chowder.”

Clam chowder is supposed to look and taste like this:

Photo: a bowl of New England clam chowder
Source: Wikipedia

Just looking at it you can taste it.

I know that other types of chowders exist: Manhattan style, corn chowder, fish chowder, spicy chowders, etc. – but this menu specifically said it was “New England Clam Chowder.”

#EpicFail.

As the Dallas Morning News reported in this 1964 newspaper article, New Englanders “are almost offended if they are served anything but the creamy New England Clam Chowder.”

An article about clam chowder, Dallas Morning News newspaper article 9 January 1964
Source: GenealogyBank.com, Dallas Morning News (Dallas, Texas), 9 January 1964, Section 5, page 11

Which clam chowder do you prefer?
New England?
Manhattan style?
Other?

Tell us about your favorite in the comments section below.

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