Clams

The results are in and you need to make your own final decision on which cup of clam chowder is your favorite! When we joined our friends Jacquie and Grant on the Oregon Coast recently, one of the things that we did was to taste and compare clam chowder from several of the eateries around that coastal area.

Tabulation by the accounting firm of Ernst and Whinney.

Once we had a couple bowls under our belts we made up a judging sheet, on a napkin, that laid out the items we used to make our comparisons. We used five criteria which we judged the chowder on and gave each area a plus (+), zero (0), or minus (-) rating. I changed the rating from the plus-minus system to a number system to make the results easier. The new ratings go as follows: plus (+) = 3 points, zero (0) = 2 points, or minus (-) rating = 0 points. Highest possible rating would be 15 possible points.

Our five areas of judging were:

Creaminess - Was the product creamy the way mom made it.
Taste - Did it have a taste and did it make you notice it's flavor.
Seafood - Did it have chunks of seafood in it and was it enough to make you notice.
Hot - Was it served hot?
A balance of flavor - Did it have a good balance of ingredients with not too much bacon, onion, or too many potatoes.

We rated nine different clam chowders and here are the results in the order in which we consumed the contestants.

Crab Bucket  - North of Westport, Wa - Jacquie and Grant
Total Score = 5

Creaminess - 0
Taste - 2
Seafood - 0
Hot - 3
A balance of flavor - 0

Notes: Jacquie and Grant stopped on one of their first days and had chowder, not knowing that they would be called upon in the future to judge their meal. This was the first taste of chowder and was eaten before the Can-Am Rendezvous actually officially started.

Wet Dog  - Astoria, OR - Dean, Linda, Jacquie and Grant
Total Score = 14

Creaminess - 3
Taste - 3
Seafood - 3
Hot - 2
A balance of flavor - 3

Notes: When the Rendezvous officially started we wandered into this establishment and enjoyed a wonderful bowl. Jacquie and Grant tasted their treat and immediately made a comparison to their bowl at the Crab Bucket. Thus the competition began.

Mo's  - Cannon Beach, OR - Dean, Linda, Jacquie and Grant
Total Score = 9

Creaminess - 2
Taste - 2
Seafood - 3
Hot - 0
A balance of flavor - 2

Notes: We had a wonderful view of Cannon Beach from our table. Mo's and The Horn were equally rated for their views, but that was not part of our challenge criteria.

Rendezvous  - Tillamook, OR - Dean, Linda, Jacquie and Grant
Total Score = 9

The resturant at the Rendezvous.

Creaminess - 0
Taste - 3
Seafood - 3
Hot - 0
A balance of flavor - 3

Notes: It was a bit of an obstacle course to get into this bar and grill, but it had to be done! Screw the huge road construction that caused us to dodge traffic and climb along wooden bridges to reach the entrance to this highly rated establishment. A rendezvous at the Rendezvous was a must! The fact that their foods were rated high on Trip Advisor was a huge plus.

The Horn  - Depoe Bay, OR - Dean, Linda, Jacquie and Grant
Total Score = 14

Creaminess - 3
Taste - 3
Seafood - 2
Hot - 3
A balance of flavor - 3

Notes: We looked out over the highway and watched spouting whales as we ate our chowder. At least we think they were spouting whales. Dean sat and watched the NCAA tournament.

Ocean Bleu Seafood  - Newport, OR - Dean, Linda, Jacquie and Grant
Total Score = 13.5

Creaminess - 2.5
Taste - 3
Seafood - 3
Hot - 2
A balance of flavor - 3

Notes: The service was great and the place was a perfect mix of old home town and waterfront. We exited the door after our meal and were drawn by the barking sea lions down the street to watch a circus of these animals laying on the docks.

The Firehouse  - Florence, OR - Dean, Linda, Jacquie and Grant
Total Score = 15

Creaminess - 3
Taste - 3
Seafood - 3
Hot - 3
A balance of flavor - 3

Note: This stop may not be a fair stop for a clam chowder challenge. The Firehouse is a five-time clam chowder award winner. We never could find out who was judging them for their five awards, but they came in strong with us also.

Tony's Crab Shack  - Bandon, OR - Dean, Linda, Jacquie and Grant

Tony's Crab Shack 

Total Score = 9

Creaminess - 3
Taste - 2
Seafood - 2
Hot - 2
A balance of flavor - 0

Note: Trip Advisor said we had to eat here and to try their crab sandwich. Why we tried the clam chowder is beyond me. It's a crab shack for heaven's sake!

Now that we are home and looking back on the clam chowder challenge, I would recommend that you take a trip down the Oregon Coast and do your own tasting. It was a fun way to eat some very good food!

Where was the best chowder on our trip, you ask?  Caroline made us her clam chowder on the day we arrived at their house. It was by far the best! She served it with breaded Razor Clams and it was a treat beyond belief.  I can't give you the exact location of their house, but if she ever wanted to open a clam chowder shack, it would get our votes!