2 slices bacon, cut into small pieces
½ yellow onion, diced
1 rib celery, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (8 ounce) bottle clam juice
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup cubed Yukon Gold potatoes
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste
½ cup heavy whipping cream
1 red Fresno chile pepper, diced
1 teaspoon lemon zest
salt to taste
1 pound bay scallops
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir until fat renders and bacon is slightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Add onion to bacon; cook and stir until soft and translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir celery and garlic into onion mixture, cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Pour clam juice, chicken broth, potato, cayenne pepper, and black pepper into bacon mixture; bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium low, and cook until potatoes are almost tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Stir cream and chile pepper into potato mixture; bring to a simmer and cook until potatoes are completely tender and chowder flavors combine, about 5 minutes. Season with lemon zest and salt. Stir scallops into chowder and cook over medium heat until scallops are tender and white, 1 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in tarragon.