• 1 Tbs butter
• 1 cup diced celery
• 1 cup diced onion
• 1/2 cup raw diced bacon
• 1/2 tsp finely chopped garlic
• 1/2 tsp finely chopped fresh thyme
• 2 Bay Leaves
• 3 1/2 cups chopped sea clams
• 1/2 gallon clam juice
• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup diced cooked potato
• 2 cups heavy cream
• salt & pepper to taste

In large pot, sauté bacon, onion, and celery in 1 Tbs butter (do not brown bacon).  Add garlic, thyme, bay leaves, clams, and clam juice.  Bring to a boil.  

Melt 1 cup butter in medium skillet.  Add flour and cook for 5 minutes.  Add butter/flour mixture to boiling clam mixture, stirring constantly until thickened.  Add cooked potato, heavy cream, salt, and pepper.

Simmer 15 minutes and serve.