Don’t Despair — It’s Still Chowder Season!

It’s a natural New England phenomenon to associate clam chowder with the summertime. There’s nothing like relaxing next to the beach and dunking a fist full of clamcake into some piping hot chowder. Hot sun, hot soup? Sounds incredibly sweaty. And not in the good way. A few people had the bright idea to celebrate our beloved soup in 58 degree weather instead of 90.

New Bedford Chowder Festival, October 13, noon – 5 pm, under tents at Pier 3 on New Bedford’s working waterfront, Mass. Sample and vote! More than 25 area restaurants will compete in the categories of Clam Chowder, Seafood Chowder and a new category of “Signature Soup.”

“We also have competition categories for kale soup and stuffed quahogs, in homage to our large Portuguese community … come early , taste, taste, taste,  take a break , then taste some more.” — Diane Arsenault, Downtown New Bedford Inc.

www.DownTownNB.org

Mystic Seaport Chowder Days, October 12 – 14, 9 am – 5 pm, 75 Greenville Ave., Mystic, Conn. Live music, hayrides, face painting, arts and crafts, like gourd painting and scarecrow making, oversized Jenga (we’re assured it’s not as dangerous as it sounds), and of course, chowder. Catering by Coastal Gourmet.

“[Our] Bahamian conch chowder is a Caribbean twist on the New England staple. Conch has a richer, more exotic flavor than clams and makes a great variant of the chowders we are used to up here … people should bring their appetite and be prepared for a good time.” — Dan McFadden, Mystic Seaport

www.MysticSeaport.org

Harvest Johnny Cake Festival, October 19 – 20, 10 am – 5 pm, Kenyon’s Grist Mill, off Route 138, West Kingston. Although the star of the show is, obviously, the famous New England creation, the Johnny Cake, Chowder and Clam Cakes will also figure prominently into this very tasty event.

“I’ll make a rack of Johnny Cakes in the morning, and we’ll put a good Lobster Newberg over it and snack on it all day long.” —Paul Drumm, Grist Mill

Drumm recommends roasted corn and shrimp chowder or lobster pumpkin bisque over a foundation of three Johnny Cakes.

www.JohnnyCakeFestival.com