A bisque is a type of rich, thick, creamy soup which has been pureed so that it has an even texture and is considered to be a technique of the "higher end". Traditionally, bisque includes seafood, wine or cognac, and cream, along with a mixture of spices. Bisque is related to consomme, which is another rich soup produced through a long cooking process that concentrates flavours for intensity. As the name suggests, bisque has its origins in France, although the dish is prepared all over the world with a wide variety of ingredients.The origins of the word bisque in relation to soup are debated. Some food historians believe that the word refers to the fact that the soup is cooked twice, while others suspect that it is related to the Bay of Biscay. Cuisine from Biscay often includes spicy ingredients similar to those used in bisque, and another type of soup, called Biscay, involves the use of heavily spiced game birds in a recipe very similar to that used for bisque.
Chowder is a type of rich rustic soup, usually made with seafood, vegetables, and cream. Traditionally, chowder includes a base of bacon and is thickened with broken up crackers, although variations of the dish with slightly different ingredients are made in many seafaring communities. Often likened to a stew, chowder is thick with chunks of ingredients, and has a very hearty, warming flavor. In the United States, chowder is frequently made with clams, and two varieties are very popular: New England style clam chowder, which uses cream, and Manhattan style, which uses a base of pureed tomatoes.
The word “chowder” first appeared in English within a recipe header in 1751, although there is evidence that the dish was popular well before then. This chowder recipe included onions, bacon, fish, an assortment of spices, biscuits, claret, and water. In the 1800s, American cooks began to make the transition to clams, because of the abundance of shellfish in the new colony. Cooks also began to add cream to chowder, and to differentiate unique types depending on the ingredients.
