In Search of “Delaware Style” Clam Chowder
There is not such thing as Delaware Style clam chowder. That’s the point. There should be. Delaware needs a cultural identity beyond being the “Usury State.” (Thanks Carper, you f*cker!)
With our proximity to New Jersey, we are in danger of being culturally dominated by hair gel abusing douche-bags. Also, did you know what visitors to this state are greeted with when they stop at the new I-95 rest area? Crabs. Crabs! Like we are some kind of ersatz Maryland. Fuck that!
To get the ball rolling, here are some things we need to have our own cultural identity. Please feel free to add to this list and make suggestions as to what the “Delaware Style” thing should be:
-Delaware Clam Chowder
-A hat style associated with Delaware
-A uniquely Delawarean dance
-A Delaware-wide agreed upon quirky pronunciation of the word “Wilmington”
On a personal note, I’d urge my fellow Delawareans to adopt a the crocheted hat with Abe Lincoln Beard for the Delaware children’s hat, and the porkpie hat for the Delaware adult’s hat.
Some people think that the porkpie is the fedora, but those people are ignorant losers.
Delaware Clam Chowder
2 dozen Indian River Bay chowder clams
1 quart heavy cream
1/2 cup butter
1 cup onion
2 lbs potato
1 tsp each PCB and dioxin
may substitute 1 cup water from any well east of I95 for PCB and dioxin
Muskrat?
Shouldn’t we somehow be a chicken state? A statewide chicken dish?
“Delaware Style” is and always will be an oxymoron. Delaware’s primary identity is as an “in-between” state (“Delaware: So close to where you’d rather be”).
Delaware’s cultural identity is drawn from Main Line snobs in the north, and gap-toothed rednecks in the south. Those of us who don’t think they fit either of those stereotypes have traits from both, sometimes with hilarious results.
I disagree. We have a larger economy than Iceland* so we are large enough to have our own cultural identity.
*Not sure about that Iceland thing, but it feels right.
Shouldn’t that chowder be a scrapple chowder? Or muscrat chowder?
I don’t think I’d touch either one of them, but still.
The entire population of Wilmington could fit into the old Yankee Stadium.
Muskrat Soup.
Play with it outside, please.
Just off the top of my head:
1-Marsh-rabbit stew
2-Something incorporating an air filter to minimize the out of state air we breathe.
3-A mash up of the minuet and clog dancing
4-Wil-min-tun
I once saw a man eating a muskrat sandwich, as he grasped the bread in both hands , I noticed 2 paws sticking out from the thing. Eek… no muskrat for me. -G
“Wil-min-tun”
I love it.
For any “culture” to happen anywhere, particularly DE.
We need to lift our language out of the gutter and use the “correct”
“Delawarian” accent, either from Sussex County or “Greenville” you chose depending where you are when you speak, while eating the CHOWDER!
P.S.(without profanity of course, save that for South Philly)!
And we need to stop carrying wooter for the Fluffya Iggles. They don’t even know Delaware exists. Once again, another example of Delaware piggybacking on Philadelpia culture.
Gotta go with muskrat. And for the braver souls here, the season is coming up and the place to buy muskrat is close to home. Please place your orders accordingly.
And to further ease your mind, it is Delaware law, and the retailer follows the law, that all dressed muskrats must have the head and at least one paw still attached so you know you’re not getting cat.
My grandfather insisted the Muskrat must be cooked with the head on.
Cat tastes better.
Anything tastes better. A diet of fish and water critters makes for an oily meat.
And my friends who’ve been to Korea tell me dog tastes much better than cat.
The bicycle should feature prominently in our state’s cultural identity. In the future, when you think of Delaware, you will think of people getting to work on bikes.
I had muskrat once. When it was piping hot, it was fine. Once it cooled off, it was gross.
Beer would have gone a long way to making it more palatable.
Wouldn’t it be nice for us to be the windmill state. Or the electric car state?