My kids and I spend every summer in the beautiful little seaside town where I grew up. In my town, truly local food often means seafood. Drive by the harbor all year long and you will see fishing trawlers and lobster boats going in and out of the channel. Weather watching is a community past-time and the politics of over-fishing and imported seafood aren’t just esoteric topics you read about in the newspaper.
As a child, I didn’t appreciate this easy access to seafood. We ate fish at least once a week – always on Fridays – usually cod. Ever since I have moved away from Boston and my little fishing village, I became acutely aware of how difficult it is to get good, fresh fish. I didn’t transition well to the midwest seafood options when I moved to Cleveland. Lake fish and I never really got along. I have had a better time with seafood since moving to Charlotte – thankfully North Carolina at least touches the Atlantic Ocean – but it’s an awfully long drive to get to a small-town fish market like the ones I grew up with.
For the two months that I am home with my children in Massachusetts, we make many, many trips to our favorite seafood spots. We try new things but, just like when I was little, cod graces our plates (and bowls) very often. When I popped into the fish market this week, I knew I had corn and potatoes waiting for me at home, I just needed some seafood. I decided to stick with the tried-and-true cod – a pound and a half please – and then I saw a pint of minced clams in the freezer section. Less work for me, not too pricey, and a different taste and texture in my easy chowder – perfect.
Chowder is a quick and easy weeknight meal. Chop and cook, chop and cook. Season. Add milk and cream. Done. Hope you enjoy it…
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