This may be more IMHOish than GQish, apologies if so.
Am I crazy to believe that New England clam chowder is NOT supposed to have bacon in it?
I’m an East Coaster who did a stint in Boston, now living in Los Angeles. Half the restaurants I’ll order it from make it with bacon. My friends mock me whenever I now ask waiters, “Do you make your clam chowder with bacon?” But inevitably I have the last laugh when s/he comes back saying, “Sorry, yeah, ours has bacon.”
What gives???