What's the difference between soup and bisque and chowder?

Bisques and chowders are simply two types of thick soup; bisque is generally smooth while chowder is chunky. Both have a long history with seafood—the word chowder comes from the French word for the cauldron in which fishermen made their stew—but both words are used often used to describe non-seafood dishes as well.

Recipe: Corn-Fish Chowder