Advice concerning a US starter and wine accompaniment

Hello, Next time the AAB tasting group is meeting, the theme of the night is - USA. Yep, no more, no less. Our part is a) provide a wine for the tasting session and b) a starter with suitable accompanying wine (a US wine, of course). As to a), we´ll have to see which affordable red is available at the time - Bonny Doon´s Big House Red comes to mind, we rather like that. AND it is available. AND it is affordable, better clbutt US wines tending to be veeeery expensive in Sweden, and that is by Swedish standards! But what sould be a good starter? I have contemplated Clam Chowder, only, well, we don´t get clams in Sweden - mussles, yes, chickenles, sometimes, and scallops, OK if mostly frozen, but not clams. Apart from that, I suppose I could use mussles and do a chowder ... serve a Fumé Blanc or similar, if I couldn´t get hold of a bottle of TOm S´ excellent CH Burbank (highly unlikely) - but, good gentles all, perhaps you have some alternatives to suggest?

TIA and Cheers

Nils Gustaf

-- Respond to nils dot lindgren at drchips dot se