Madame Greig's Manhattan Clam Chowder

No matter how disinterested your mom may be in cooking, everyone probably has some kind of favorite mom dish that cannot be replicated. My mom's manhattan clam chowder is that for me. It is my favorite thing on earth. Despite Manhattan clam chowder being the red headed step child of clam chowder, what few people know is that it is actually the best. New England clam chowder is a total waste of time compared to manhattan. If you had been to my mom's, you would know this to be true. I have never replicated it truly successfully. That is somewhat situational, as when my mom makes it, I dont have to, which automatically makes it better. In that scenario I've spent all day in the pool and then eat this in a bathing suit. Today, I interrupted my busy Cesar Milan Dog Whisperer marathon to whip up a batch. And it was a tremendous success, thanks to CSA Summer Savory. Get over yourself Summer Savory. You are thyme. But I am still grateful because it was my best clam chowder ever. Most ingredients were procured at union square, with the clams from costco (best seafood and year round fruit in manhattan- it cannot be denied). CSA provided the summer savory/thyme. Had with Eve's Cidery Northern Spy cider (union square). Delish. Manhattan clam chowder 4 tablespoons butter - melt in pan 2 onions 1 cup of chopped celery in with the onion until soft then add: 1 28oz can of chopped tomatoes 5 cups (or if you're lazy, 1 box of chicken broth which is 4 cups) 1.5 tbs thyme or summer savory if you belong to a douchy csa and it is available (I also added a little bit of dried thyme today too) 2 bay leaves 2 large diced potatoes or a bunch of super cute little potatoes available now at farmers markets handful of parsley salt and pepper to taste. I undersalt until the end because the clams are pretty briny cook 30 mins or so until the potatoes are tender Steam 3 doz clams or so, whatever came in your costco pack and then add shelled clams (I took the extra step to chop them today which was good) to broth. It would have been better with the pool and my mom and everything, but this was pretty damn good.