Fun Fact Friday - What's Thick, White, and Salty?

Chowder, of course! Come now! I was going to do a fun fact about theater or hotels, because I happen to be in a play set in a hotel this weekend. And I like to link things in my life together so I have fewer things to think about. But then, today at lunch I had some New England Clam Chowder and then I started reading about chowder (because I am the kind of person who looks up shit about her lunch) and I found a delightful fact.

Fun fact: The Maine legislature introduced a bill in 1939 to make it illegal to add tomatoes to a chowder.

Essentially a move to tell New Yorkers and their Manhattan claim chowder to go fuck themselves, the bill did not pass. Why is it that "go fuck yourself" bills never seem to make it anywhere? This is yet another reason I could never hold public office. I would introduce all sorts of fuck off resolutions just to be an asshole. Because I kind of am an asshole.

I would, however, like to offer you this lovely quote from Time:

"For decades, New Englanders have viewed tomatoes in clam chowder as an affront to the very essence of soup."

I did not know I was so offended by tomatoes. I mean, I certainly find it objectionable that people are always going on about how tomatoes are a fruit, and people never grant the same courtesy to eggplants or zucchini! Which are all fruit, by the way. Also ovaries. I would explain, but I have given you one fun fact for the day and really that is all I promised.

But back to soup. Perhaps I should be offended by Manhattan clam chowder as a New Englander. But I can't say I am. There are so many delicious soups. Why must we bicker about the perfect winter day meal? They took Crossfire off the air for a reason. And if it wasn't because Jon Stewart shat on Crossfire while on Crossfire, it was probably because people just wanted to eat their damn soup. Goodness knows I do.