We recently ran a New York Times story called In a '64 T-Bird, Chasing a Date With a Clam.
Sez David Leite: "Fried clams are to New England what barbecue is to the South. Like barbecue, the best clams come from small roadside shacks run in pragmatic mom-and-pop style. Flinty Northerners, like their porcine-loving counterparts, can be fanatically loyal to their favorite spots."
Forsake the flint and let us in on your most loved shacks in the comments below, won't you kindly?
Mmmmm! Clam-tastic!
UPDATE -- READER RECIPES
From a reader named Bette:
Clam Fritter Recipe
2 C Flour
2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
2 Eggs
1 1/2 C Clam Juice
1 C Chopped Clams
Combine all ingredients and drop by spoon full into hot oil of your choice. Cook till golden brown.
And, from reader Dee:
Easy Clam Cake Recipe
Little yummy balls of clam heaven
Ingredients:
2 eggs, 1/2 cup clam juice, 1/2 cup milk, dash pepper, 1/4 tsp. salt, 1 1/2 cup flour, 3 tsp. baking powder, 1 can minced clams (an equal amount of freshly steamed clams is best, and quahogs even better - but you can use canned minced clams if rushed),
Preparation:
Beat eggs. Blend in milk and clam juice. Sift flour, baking powder, salt and pepper together. Add the minced clams to the sifted flour and then add enough of the liquid to make a thick, lumpy batter. Drop batter by teaspoons into 375 oil. When one side is cooked, the cakes will roll over by themselves. Drain on brown paper and salt to taste. This will make about 6 or so, so up the recipe, because you'll want more.
In a fried food state of mind? Gobble up some finger-lickin' fried chicken.
Take the State Fair Fare Quiz.
Cheese Course: Brebis Pardou
A transcendent summer tomato salad
Sliced bread turns 80 today
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 10)
8-30-2007 @ 7:27AM
Johanna Clancy said...
The Clam Shack right before the little bridge heading into Kennebunkport, Maine. Their WHOLE-BELLY fried clams are the stuff dreams are made of!!! Not to mention their onion rings.....
Reply
8-30-2007 @ 8:55AM
Paul Oliva said...
I have tried fried clams all over the Northeast and the best clams in N. E. are at Ronnies in OXford, MA and the Clam Shack in Ipswich, MA.
Reply
8-30-2007 @ 9:30AM
Chuck Hayden said...
The best fried clams can be found at a little clam shack near Seabrook Harbor. The stands name is Ceal's and has been in continuous operation since the early 1940's. Thier onion rings won't leave ya cryin either!
Reply
8-30-2007 @ 9:31AM
Chery said...
I am from Lynn, Mass and just moved back after being in Texas for 4 years, No fried clams in Texas! I love the fried clams at Kelly's at Revere beach! They were the first thing I had after returning to Mass. and they were as delicious as I remembered them! They are the best!
Reply
8-30-2007 @ 9:38AM
Chuck Hayden said...
The best fried clams can be found at a little clam shack near the Seabrook,NH Harbor. The stands name is Ceal's and has been in continuous operation since the early 1940's. Thier onion rings won't leave ya cryin either!
Reply
8-30-2007 @ 9:44AM
dave said...
Clambox in Ipswich Mass......hands down the best, Kellys in Saugus mass is one of the places to avoid, too commercialized
Reply
8-30-2007 @ 9:58AM
Charlotte said...
I agree about the Clam Shack in Ipswich, but equally as good is the Clam Shack in Kennebunkport, Maine. Fabulous! Try it!
Reply
8-30-2007 @ 10:13AM
Jane said...
How about WOODMAN'S in Essex???? The absolute best. I am a native North Shore person who was transplanted to the Chicago area. No great sea food here. So when I vist my old home town, WOODMAN'S is on top of the list.
Can't wait for my hubby to retire so we can get back to the best food in the country!!!!!!
Reply
8-30-2007 @ 10:57AM
Alyssa said...
Clam box in Ipswich, Massachusetts is by far the best fried seafood you can get in the area
Reply
8-30-2007 @ 12:53PM
Breanna said...
Bob's Clam Hut in York, ME. They have awesome Lobster Rolls too! What I would do for one right now!
Reply
8-30-2007 @ 1:06PM
Laurie said...
Flo's Clam Shack in Portsmouth and Newport, RI (the original is in Portsmouth). It's truly a shack with the best fried clams (as well as stuffies and clam cakes for those of you who like local treats). It's been around forever and it's worth the wait.
Reply
8-30-2007 @ 1:27PM
Jim said...
I live in Ipswich, Mass., Clam Box is best. Farnham's in Essex, Mass. and Woodman's in Essex are 1,2,3.
Reply
8-30-2007 @ 1:33PM
Sharon Kugell said...
The Fried Clams with Bellys and butter rich Lobster Rolls served at Jimmies Restaurant in West Haven(Savin Rock), CT. are really delicious. They serve generous portions. I look forward to my CT. visits.
Reply
8-30-2007 @ 1:39PM
Dona said...
On a recent trip to Mass and RI searched in vain for Clam Cakes.......anyone have a recipe?
Reply
8-30-2007 @ 2:06PM
Jaycee said...
OMG! I grew up in New Bedford and Westport, MA! I have lived in Northern CA for 18 years! There are NO CLAMS here that qualify as a clam! We have paid ENORMOUS fortunes to have New England clams shipped to us for very special occasions.
The article about McCray's - our favorite haunt brought tear to my eyes! What I woulnd't give for a fat-bellied fried clam!!
Reply
9-01-2007 @ 6:19AM
donna said...
the Cabby shack..... in Plymouth, Ma. on the waterfront, DELICIOUS
Reply
9-01-2007 @ 6:36AM
Camille said...
Every summer I have to visit Cooke's in Orleans, Ma or Moby Dick's in Wellfleet, Ma. The rest of the year I long for the fried clams of the cape and the best of the best seafood.
Reply
9-01-2007 @ 6:39AM
Rose Ryan said...
I have to agree with Chery....Kelly's clams are the best I've ever had....it's been almost 20 years since I've been to Revere Beach and I can still remember the wonder flavor. They also have the best clam chowder. All they have here in South Carolina is clam strips....a very poor substitute.
Reply
9-01-2007 @ 6:45AM
sue said...
we live in southwest florida since 1988 and are driving back home to ct and ri next summer ...the main 2 reasons to go see relatives and my husband wants Aunt Carries clam cakes in Narragansett and Dinos in North Haven....1400 miles for these and the memories ...worth every mile we have found a great substitue at fishermans village in Punta Gorda fl though
Reply
9-01-2007 @ 7:06AM
g.l.floyd said...
being from maine i have eaten a lot of fried clams. i now reside in palm coast fl. and have found a couple of places near here that serve real new england fried clams. the two we prefer are essex seafood in astor fl. and boston's fish house in new smyrna,fl. both within a short drive from daytona. on a recent trip back to maine we craved some fried clams, a friend told us about a place in carmel me. just outside bangor called the seafood galley. the clams were some of the best i have ever eaten. the batter was absolutely perfect. the bellies were big, succulent and juicy. there used to be a place in east. newport me,called the log cabin, where on sundays it opened at 3 pm. if you weren't there by 1:30 or 2 you would wait in a line all the way around the building to order a basket of some of the most delicious clams in the state of maine.enjoy them while you can as they are dwindeling. please conserve, thank you.
Reply