Chowder
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chowder is any of a variety of soups, enriched with salt pork fatback and thickened with flour, or more traditionally with crushed ship biscuit or saltine crackers, and milk. To some Americans, it means clam chowder, made with cream or milk in most places, or with tomato as "Manhattan clam chowder." Corn chowder is a thick soup filled with whole corn (maize) kernels. Chowder is often commonly associated with New England cuisine.
The most accepted etymology for the word chowder comes from the pot in which it is cooked. The French word chaudière translated means "a pot," developed from chaud, "hot" (also related to the Latin Calderia and English Cauldron). The word "chowder" is a New England word that came from Newfoundland, where Breton fishermen — who would throw portions of the day's catch and other available foods into a large pot — introduced the word, and perhaps the fish soup itself (compare bouillabaisse). Another possible origin for the word Chowder is derived from the Old English "jowter", which means fishmonger (one who peddles fish).
The recipe below for "New England chowder" is a fish chowder, which along with corn and clam chowder continues to enjoy popularity in New England.
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[edit] References to chowder in popular culture
- as Springfield Meatloaf, in at least one episode of The Simpsons. The pronunciation of the word "chowder"(properly prounced in a Boston accent as "Chowdah") also served as an important plot element in another episode, The Boy Who Knew Too Much.
- In the song, c. 1898 by George L. Giefer "Who Threw the Overalls in Mrs. Murphy's Chowder," which survives primarily (slightly corrupted) as a repeated children's chant "Who put the overalls in Mrs. Murphy's chowder?/Nobody answered so we asked a little louder." Lyrics at [1], [2], [3], tune at [4], 1901 audio recording at [5].
- In the slang word "chowderhead." Wentworth and Flexner: "A stupid person; one who uses poor judgement. Since c. 1835." (One of many expressions analogizing a head to a soft, mushy substance).
[edit] Ishmael samples chowders (in Moby-Dick)
- Mrs. Hussey... ushered us into a little room, and seating us at a table spread with the relics of a recently concluded repast, turned round to us and said--"Clam or Cod?"
- "What's that about Cods, ma'am?" said I, with much politeness.
- "Clam or Cod?" she repeated.
- "A clam for supper? a cold clam; is that what you mean, Mrs. Hussey?" says I, "but that's a rather cold and clammy reception in the winter time, ain't it, Mrs. Hussey?"
- But being in a great hurry to resume scolding the man in the purple shirt who was waiting for it in the entry, and seeming to hear nothing but the word "clam," Mrs. Hussey hurried towards an open door leading to the kitchen, and bawling out "clam for two," disappeared...
- However, a warm savory steam from the kitchen served to belie the apparently cheerless prospect before us. But when that smoking chowder came in, the mystery was delightfully explained. Oh! sweet friends, hearken to me. It was made of small juicy clams, scarcely bigger than hazel nuts, mixed with pounded ship biscuits, and salted pork cut up into little flakes! the whole enriched with butter, and plentifully seasoned with pepper and salt. Our appetites being sharpened by the frosty voyage, and in particular, Queequeg seeing his favourite fishing food before him, and the chowder being surpassingly excellent, we despatched it with great expedition: when leaning back a moment and bethinking me of Mrs. Hussey's clam and cod announcement, I thought I would try a little experiment. Stepping to the kitchen door, I uttered the word "cod" with great emphasis, and resumed my seat. In a few moments the savoury steam came forth again, but with a different flavor, and in good time a fine cod-chowder was placed before us.
[edit] Chowder competitions
Newport, Rhode Island's Great Chowder Cook-Off, held each year since 1981, is the world's largest and oldest chowder competition.[6] The 2003 event was featured in a Food Network documentary.[7][8]
[edit] References
- Wentworth, Harold and Stuart Berg Flexner, 1967, Dictionary of American Slang, Thomas Y. Crowell, NY. ISBN 0-690-23602-6 ("Chowderhead" definition, in use since c. 1835).
