Chowdah-fest

Last week in Boston, it was over 90 degrees for 4 straight days. That may seem like nice fall temperatures to some of you, but up here that falls under the category of "wicked hot." As Bev remarked one humid evening while walking (dare I say, stumbling) back from Warren Tavern, "I feel like I'm swimming in a bowl of clam chowder." Ah, those English major types. So quick with their similes. Or is it metaphors. Who knows?

Anyway, it recently cooled down to a very pleasant 70 degrees, which was great weather for the 26th Annual Boston Chowderfest. Bev and I have kept close tabs on past winners, often making special trips to sample a cup here or there, but we had never actually participated in picking the winner. So yesterday Bev put on her best clam get-up, I threw on my chowdah bib, and we rode the 93 down to Government Center for an afternoon of clam chowder. I have to say we had a lot of fun! Christopher's of Maynard was my early favorite (nice creamy broth, hearty potato chunks, good seafood taste), while Bev liked The Fireplace in Brookline early on (creamy broth, bacon and onion to balance the clams, intangible fire-cooked flavor). Some places just didn't have it. The USS Wasp (ahoy, matey) served a hearty meal but it was too cold and was more of a seafood chowder. Great Bay's broth was too watery (disappointing for such an acclaimed restaurant), La Morra's broth had not so-subtle hints of fennil, and -- despite the best efforts of scantily-clad teenage girls trying to peddle their goods -- The Skipper's chowder was just forgettable. There were other vendors, of course, but they all tend to blend together in a clammy haze. As luck would have it, though, we saved the best for last -- Ned Devine's Irish Pub. Past winners in 2004 and 2005, Neddy D's -- not to be confuse with the Needl-D -- served up a delicious chowder. It had a creamy broth with just the right consistency, hearty chunks of potato to complement chewy pieces of clam, nice warm seafood taste, probably the perfect chowder to pair with a pint on a cold Boston night. They haven't announced an official winner yet (we'll keep you posted), but Ned Devine's -- along with our other favorite over the years, The Barking Crab -- gets a a ringing Blair endorsement.