Aug 12, 2015 I was at home in New Brunswick last week visiting my friends and family. It was a last-minute decision to travel, but I was feeling really homesick and claustrophobic in the hot city. I feel like I need this trip home every year to recharge my batteries. If you have never travelled to the Canadian atlantic coast, you’re missing out. It is so beautiful and rustic, with dramatic coastlines studded with fishing towns and endless beaches. Charming like New England, but with distinct Canadian flavour and personality. No matter how much I love Vancouver, New Brunswick is home to me – I think there’s Atlantic seawater in my veins. My mom’s home sits on a sprawling lawn, with an enormous ash tree, lots of apple trees, a fish pond, beautiful flower gardens, grape vines, a porch swing, twinkly lights, giant planters overflowing with beans and peas and tomatoes, and too many decks and outdoor seating areas to count (with a fire pit on each). It’s basically paradise. Such a breath of fresh air for me, coming from congested apartment living. I actually made this recipe before I left, but haven’t had a chance to post it yet. I decided to take it easy for the week I was away instead. Baby #2 is arriving in just six weeks (gulp!) and I’m acutely aware that my life is going to get a bit crazy for a while. The soup starts with fresh corn and a hot grill. Mild poblanos chilis are grilled too – they provide a subtle bit of heat and a lovely pop of green. I pureed a portion of the soup and returned it to the pot to produce a creamy texture – but feel free to substitute actual cream (about half a cup, I’d suggest) for some of the milk if you’d like. Also, crispy bacon has never made a chowder taste worse… I had reserved some beautiful bits of charred corn to finish the soup for photos, but my babysitter accidentally threw them away. You’ll just have to trust me that below the surface, every spoonful is full of sweet, fire-kissed corn.
