Bacon Loves Clam Chowder Gnocchi

My head chef, Nick Karoly, made this for his tasting when he applied for the job. I told him I wanted him to re-create something classic that had bacon in it and what I got was actually two classics: creamy New England clam chowder and pasta alle vongole with pillowy potato gnocchi standing in for the spaghetti. It is a soup that eats like a meal.