What can I serve with White Clam Chowder?

[lyndalou]

I am planning to have friends over for clam chowder in a couple of days, and can't think of a good dish to serve with it.It is a hearty soup and probably doesn't require much. Maybe just garlic bread and a light dessert? what do you think?

Lyndalou

 

[apple*tart]

What about a green salad, maybe even with homemade dressing? And definitely bread. Fruit would be good too, and definitely dessert.

 

[Wyogal]

A nice, crusty bread, the garlic may overpower your chowder flavor. A salad is good, but maybe do as an appetizer so the diner isn't jumbling two plates at a time. (Even seated) Maybe start with a salad, then the soup, then a dessert (brownies!!).

 

[CharlieD]

I don't know, I'd still sere a second course (sp?) .

 

[vyapti]

I'd go with bread. Better yet, chowder in a bread bowl.

 

[jabbur]

crusty bread, crackers and cheese, fruit plate, veggie tray,

BTW Manhattan or New England? That may dictate what you serve with it.

 

[lyndalou]

Soup and salad it is. Salad first, then the soup. I agree that the garlic may overcome the flavor of the chowder, so I'll just do a good crusy bread, as suggested. Brownies would e a good dessert, but I had that the last time they were over 2 weeks ago. May do a crostata. Thanks, everyone.

Lyndalou

 

[Constance]

I like a grilled cheese sandwich with my clam chowder.

 

[BreezyCooking]

I second just serving a nice salad & some crusty bread, plus whatever suits your fancy for dessert. Simple, rustic, & good.

 

[apple*tart]

You could always do a compound butter to go with the bread, if you wanted to dress it up a bit. Fresh herbs, maybe?

 

[mexican mama]

bread

how about a nice sandwich like ham and cheese in a focacia bread, slightly toasted..or some tortilla chips with a bean dip..

 

[ChefJune]

Soup and salad it is. Salad first, then the soup. I agree that the garlic may overcome the flavor of the chowder, so I'll just do a good crusy bread, as suggested. Brownies would e a good dessert, but I had that the last time they were over 2 weeks ago. May do a crostata. Thanks, everyone.

Lyndalou

What about Gingerbread for dessert?

 

[Alix]

Ooooo...ChefJune, gingerbread sounds lovely! Hey lyndalou, you should do Ishbel's Gingerbread Cake. Its AWESOME. I can't remember what sauce goes on it but I remember everyone really loving it the last time I made it.

jabbur, White clam chowder is New England I think. Manhattan is what my Dad taught me to make.

 

[BreezyCooking]

There are actually three somewhat "traditional" clam chowders, all with their own (sometimes rabid) followers.

New England - which is the cream-based.

Manhattan - which is the tomato-based.

Rhode Island - which is a somewhat clear clam-broth based.

All are terrific in their own ways.

 

[Alix]

I did not know about the Rhode Island variety! Do you have a recipe?

 

[BreezyCooking]

I don't have a TNT recipe that I can post, but if you do a websearch on "Rhode Island Clam Chowder", you'll get a wealth of recipes, all pretty similar. It's pretty much a clear clam-broth based chowder. Think New England &/or Manhattan without the cream &/or tomatoes.

Although many of the Rhode Island Clam Chowder recipes call for serving pitchers of warm milk alongside for folks to add to taste.

It's definitely a nice soup, & a nice change from the usual New England & Manhattan clam soups.

 

[Selkie]

I would have some crusty bread with it, but I'd avoid cheese - cheese and seafood don't mix. Cheese makes seafood taste sour. Some rules are meant to be broken... this isn't one of them!

At the most, a leafy salad, light on the dressing, so you don't mask the flavor of the clams.

Enjoy!!!

 

[Wyogal]

I agree on the no-cheese, just tear into a hunk of artisnal-type bread (NYT), sop up the broth...mmmm.

I wouldn't want to be distracted by a salad.

 

[BreezyCooking]

I would have some crusty bread with it, but I'd avoid cheese - cheese and seafood don't mix. Cheese makes seafood taste sour. Some rules are meant to be broken... this isn't one of them!

Now you see, I completely disagree with this. Cooking - & eating - is all about personal taste, & this is just your opinion, not a strict rule. Yes, yes, I know - traditionally Italians do not use cheese as a condiment for seafood pasta dishes. But plenty of people do enjoy it - even Italians. It's not a travesty.

I happen to love some good imported parmesan grated on my "Calamari over Linguine" or with my "Spinach Spaghetti with White Clam Sauce". There's absolutely nothing "sour" about it.

 

[GB]

Breezy, the way I took Selkies post was that she was implying that this is a rule for her. She said "I would have some crusty bread with it, but I'd avoid cheese". She was not saying that this is anything other than her opinion.