Here’s Your 60th Super Bowl Matchup!
For those who care, Feb. 8th will see the two best teams in the NFL go head to head for Super Bowl #60!
Some may know I was born and raised in Seattle, so the Hawks are of course a clear favorite for me – BUT what I really love about this epic battle is that it’s an “east meets west” “food fight” of chowders and more!
Seattle’s Pike Place Market Salmon Chowder!
On the west coast we have a deliciously smoky salmon chowder, using fish from the flying fishmongers of the Pike Place Market!
Yep, they love to fling whole salmon at anyone who wants it – and they have an incredible salmon chowder recipe I will be making on Super Bowl Sunday….here is the recipe if you want to make it yourself!
How could New England hope to measure up to that?
How about with Clam Chowder!
New England clam chowder is a rich, creamy, cream-based soup originating from the Northeastern United States, traditionally made with clams, potatoes, onions, and either salt pork or bacon. Known as “Boston-style” clam chowder, this hearty dish is a staple of New England cuisine and is often served with oyster crackers.
Here is the recipe I will be making – luckily, New York has a number of fresh seafood stores so I will get all I need of these:
- 2 lbs raw clams, chopped (or 8 6.5oz cans chopped clams, liquid reserved) Nothing better than starting with fresh ones!
The next ingredient is equally delicious….here’s a taste:
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon, diced…I just wanted you to see me cooking up some sizzling bacon because it’s so good!
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
- 1-2 minced garlic cloves
- 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 48 oz clam juice (or chicken stock) plus reserved clam liquid
- 3 lbs red potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2″ pieces
- 16 oz heavy cream
- 1 tsp dried thyme (optional)
- 4 bay leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, minced, for garnish
Cook the bacon: In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove the bacon and set aside, leaving the drippings in the pot.
Sauté vegetables: Add the butter, onion, and celery to the bacon fat. Sauté until tender and translucent (about 5 minutes). Add the garlic, thyme, and bay leaves, and cook for another minute until fragrant.
Make a roux and add liquid: Stir in the flour to coat the vegetables and meat. Gradually add the clam juice and reserved liquid a small amount at a time, stirring constantly until fully incorporated and a thick paste forms.
Simmer: Add the potatoes, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are very tender.
Finish the chowder: Stir in the cream and chopped clams. Note that I am going to also have a few full clams to add after I steam them first. It will look cool! Heat through, but do not boil.
Serve: Season with salt and pepper to taste. Discard the bay leaves and serve hot, garnished with the reserved crisp bacon and fresh parsley.
So there you have it, part one of my epic “food fight” because here’s a sneak peek at what I will be making for part two!
Seattle’s Dungeness Crab Cakes!
Dungeness crab is a Seattle specialty and it is delicious…slightly sweet and briny – and I will be sharing a recipe for these crab cakes as well as this New England tradition:
This is going to be such a delicious feast, regardless of who wins the game!
And do you know how much of this stuff is eaten on game day?
Put A Hold On 71.4 million Pounds Of Guacamole, Please!
Yep, that’s the estimated pounds of Hass avocados that are consumed on Super Sunday! That’s enough to cover the Super Bowl Stadium end zone to end zone in more than 27.5 feet in avocados!
You can really get into the spirit this way:
If you don’t want to make a “food stadium”, then perhaps you will settle for this:
Yes, make a cheeseburger with the melted cheese OUTSIDE THE BUN!
Here’s the recipe:
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Categories: Bite Eat Swallow, Bite! Eat! Repeat!, Cookbooks, Eat This!, Food, Food Travel, Food Writing, Recipes, Wacky Food, World's Wildest Food
Bite! Eat! Repeat! 
Both chowders look delicious. I like the look of your clam chowder. Go Seahawks!
Well, as a New Englander, you know where my vote goes in the chowdah food fight!
I am making both and will get a vote – I love them both so I win either way! Thanks for the note!
What a deliciously fascinating read and choice ! Have had the New England version but think I might like your Seattle one even better. Know but little about the game . . . but we always get shown many of the special ads you have on on the day. Have fun and hope the results go your way!
New England!