Dear Folks,

 

When is the last time you had a bowl of fresh clam chowder?

 

I am not talking about the Manhattan clam chowder.

I am talking about New England clam chowder.

 

And, for that matter, how long has it been, if ever, that you were mucking for clams?

 

I mean:

 

Back in the day, some place around New London, we would go digging for clams in the silt and muck, quite close to Niantic.

 

You could dig clams all morning, and then return with several large baskets full of clams.

 

If you had a decent recipe, then...by early evening, you would be in heaven, gulping clams in the New England sort of way.

 

Those were the days, please believe me.

 

Where have those great days gone?

 

The smell of those clams.

And, the smell of the silt in some estuary....was "way beyond compare".

 

Those clams were just sitting out there for anyone to partake, free of charge.

It's not like this, these days.

 

In fact, as I recall it, we used to take a large truck inner-tube, blow it up, and then put a basket in the middle.

Take a rake.

And then, while wading out at low tide, we would have clams, aplenty.

 

So much finer than mucking around in social media.

 

I just wish I could taste one more clam, before I die.

 

Am I right?

 

When we are young, we have not an inkling just how great our life is.

 

These days, as you know, I rarely even see a clam, much less taste one.

 

New England Clam Chowder.

Simply Heavenly, IMHO.

 

Clams are first among the things that I now miss most, in my dotage.

 

Best regards,

Gamma

 

 

Mmmmm Clam Chowder served in a hollowed out sourdough bread bowl..... Fried clam strips or popcorn shrimp on the side....

We find at least a few times each trip back....

Next trip is late Sept 25 to early January 26.... We're starting out in Texas this time, so I'm guessing we'll find CC minus the sourdough bowl.....

Hopefully, it's not southernized.....

4 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Dear Folks,

 

When is the last time you had a bowl of fresh clam chowder?

 

I am not talking about the Manhattan clam chowder.

I am talking about New England clam chowder.

 

And, for that matter, how long has it been, if ever, that you were mucking for clams?

 

I mean:

 

Back in the day, some place around New London, we would go digging for clams in the silt and muck, quite close to Niantic.

 

You could dig clams all morning, and then return with several large baskets full of clams.

 

If you had a decent recipe, then...by early evening, you would be in heaven, gulping clams in the New England sort of way.

 

Those were the days, please believe me.

 

Where have those great days gone?

 

The smell of those clams.

And, the smell of the silt in some estuary....was "way beyond compare".

 

Those clams were just sitting out there for anyone to partake, free of charge.

It's not like this, these days.

 

In fact, as I recall it, we used to take a large truck inner-tube, blow it up, and then put a basket in the middle.

Take a rake.

And then, while wading out at low tide, we would have clams, aplenty.

 

So much finer than mucking around in social media.

 

I just wish I could taste one more clam, before I die.

 

Am I right?

 

When we are young, we have not an inkling just how great our life is.

 

These days, as you know, I rarely even see a clam, much less taste one.

 

New England Clam Chowder.

Simply Heavenly, IMHO.

 

Clams are first among the things that I now miss most, in my dotage.

 

Best regards,

Gamma

 

 

I also favor New England over Manhattan style clam chowder.  I make it from canned minced clams and bottled clam juice.  Probably not a tasty as making it from fresh clams.

On 8/2/2025 at 1:48 PM, Hawaiian said:

I also favor New England over Manhattan style clam chowder.  I make it from canned minced clams and bottled clam juice.  Probably not a tasty as making it from fresh clams.

 

Interesting.

Where do you buy the canned clams and bottled clam juice in Thailand?

Is it cheap or expensive?

 

Obviously, it will not taste the same as live clams taken from the mud of an estuary in Niantic.

 

11 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Interesting.

Where do you buy the canned clams and bottled clam juice in Thailand?

Is it cheap or expensive?

 

Obviously, it will not taste the same as live clams taken from the mud of an estuary in Niantic.

 

 

why canned? frozen might be fresher? 

 

BiG C frozen clams and get some heavy cream and you;re all set

 

That's a dish that I totally miss!

(New England.)

I looked into recipes, and they didn't seem viable for me to try.

I've tried a few horrible versions in Thailand that weren't even close. Campbells cans don't cut it either.

I saw it on the menu of good place (very expensive). I might try for my birthday but I expect to be disappointed.

 

Maybe a good opportunity for a place with a good chef to do it right to market to American expats.

All I know is MOS burger, wish I knew a better place.

Au Bon Pain is not terrible.  

 

You can substitute shrimp for clams in a recipe, but cook the shrimp whole in the chowder, and the pull them out, peel them, chop them up and put them back in. 

Loves the Op's @GammaGlobulin post on Clam Chowder. I like it but has anyone here ever tried Cullen Skink?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cullen_skink

A delicious and thick Scottish soup/chowder. Available in cans made by Baxters in the UK. I would love to travel to Cullen and try the real thing. Any Scots here who can comment on comparison with chowder?

 

4 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Interesting.

Where do you buy the canned clams and bottled clam juice in Thailand?

Is it cheap or expensive?

 

Obviously, it will not taste the same as live clams taken from the mud of an estuary in Niantic.

 

Sorry for the confusion.  I live in Hawaii.  It's usually Snow's brand.

Gourmet Markets have a decent soup bar and salad bar.

 

Their NE Clam Chowder is OK.

 

Native New Englander. Fan of the Clam Box and Woodman's, both in Ipswich, MA.

 

 

 

 

10 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

Loves the Op's @GammaGlobulin post on Clam Chowder. I like it but has anyone here ever tried Cullen Skink?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cullen_skink

A delicious and thick Scottish soup/chowder. Available in cans made by Baxters in the UK. I would love to travel to Cullen and try the real thing. Any Scots here who can comment on comparison with chowder?

 

 

If you ever do go to Cullen, Steve Marsh knows a good place for Cullen Skink. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nHE1OGUB0A>

 

On 8/3/2025 at 11:20 PM, soi3eddie said:

Loves the Op's @GammaGlobulin post on Clam Chowder. I like it but has anyone here ever tried Cullen Skink?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cullen_skink

A delicious and thick Scottish soup/chowder. Available in cans made by Baxters in the UK. I would love to travel to Cullen and try the real thing. Any Scots here who can comment on comparison with chowder?

 

 

There are clams.

There are SKINK clams.

And there are clams of skanks, I guess.

Who knows.

The English language is a many-splendored thing.

 

 

 

On 8/3/2025 at 8:34 PM, Jingthing said:

That's a dish that I totally miss!

(New England.)

I looked into recipes, and they didn't seem viable for me to try.

I've tried a few horrible versions in Thailand that weren't even close. Campbells cans don't cut it either.

I saw it on the menu of good place (very expensive). I might try for my birthday but I expect to be disappointed.

 

Maybe a good opportunity for a place with a good chef to do it right to market to American expats.

 

New London

Niantic.

Old Black Point.

There is no substitute.

Those lost days seem so sweet, like the sweetness of the clams we once enjoyed in our youth.

 

If you wish an image of that estuary, I could probably find it.

 

That environment has been totally destroyed and lost.

I could say much more about those grand days.

On 8/3/2025 at 8:34 PM, Jingthing said:

That's a dish that I totally miss!

(New England.)

I looked into recipes, and they didn't seem viable for me to try.

I've tried a few horrible versions in Thailand that weren't even close. Campbells cans don't cut it either.

I saw it on the menu of good place (very expensive). I might try for my birthday but I expect to be disappointed.

 

Maybe a good opportunity for a place with a good chef to do it right to market to American expats.

 

69 years ago, this place was totally different.

It was heaven.

Now, in 2025, what is it?

 

You are right, life was better then.

And, you know it.

 

EAST LYME, CT, Baby....

And you KNOW it was good, back in the day....