Every year on February 25, individuals across the country are prepared for National Clam Chowder Day by having a bowl and spoon ready to be filled with clam chowder.
In its most basic form, a clam chowder is a soup or stew made with clams or fish. The Manhattan clam chowder contains tomatoes, but the most common kind of chowder also adds milk or cream and potatoes.

Clam chowder is frequently served on Fridays in restaurants to give individuals who refrain from meat every Friday, which used to be a requirement for Catholics before liturgical changes in Vatican II, a seafood choice.