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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.
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9-01-2007 @3:27PM Kathy said... Arnold's in Eastham, MA (Cape) and Lobster Hut in Plymouth, MA (South Shore) - Yum!
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9-02-2007 @2:56AM Peter Hession said... Long Island's BEST fried clams, Ipswich style, are found at South Shore Fish & Grill in Island Park .These same soft shelled clams, fresh caught locally, are also served as "steamers" which are also the BEST!All clam orders are picked and opened at the time of order and all FRESH fish orders are cut and prepared at the time of order.
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9-01-2007 @1:39PM JUDY ,S said... Bigelows is the best place for newenglandfish fry on the intersection of long beach road and sunrise highway in long island newyork its either the town of oceanside or rockville center yuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmyyy !!! if you cant get up too new england area its about 40 minutes from the city and again the best around .
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9-01-2007 @1:50PM Dick Higgins said... Used to be a place in Millis MA called Millie Mitchell's ... no doubt gone now (that was the early 60's) but it had the quinessential fried clam ... then there was the Red Wing on Route 1 in Foxboro, down from the Pat's stadium ... they had great fried clams (and scallops) too ... probably changed in the intervening years ... a few years back we were in Bar Harbor and there was a wonderful little restaurant In Southwest Harbor (the name of which escapes me) that had really great clams too ... but ,,, greatest of all ... in Franklin MA there was a diner on Main Street that had no real name ... every Friday ... huge plate of fried clams for about $2. Yeah it was a long time ago ... No great fried clams here in Northern Virginia, sorry. (Thanks for a trip down memory lane.)
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9-04-2007 @2:23AM Marsha said... Browns and Markeys in Seabrook! Clam Box is the best though.
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9-01-2007 @1:55PM Cheryl said... Us Long Islanders have to stick together! The best place for fried clams( bellies or not ) has got to be Bigelow's New England Fried Clams on Long Beach Road in Rockville Center. Just a little place, but Oh Boy--the best!!! Growing up on Long Island, we used to go clamming ourselves and then cook them, but even though ours tasted really good,I don't remember them being as good as the ones from Bigelow's. We used to stomp on the beach and when a stream of water came up- started digging!!! We called them P-ss clams then- still do!!
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9-01-2007 @2:12PM Jackie Corby said... I am on my way "home" next week to MA and my daughter's in Maine. I always get my "clam fix" as I call it. I will stop at Kelly's for a lobster roll and fried clams. I will bet no one remembers the International Clam House in Revere. Yes.......I am old. The clams were the best and they always served clam broth. Gosh, I can hardly wait.!!!
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9-01-2007 @2:07PM PM said... It's not a clam shack, but the very best whole belly fried clams I've had this summer were at PIZZA WAVE in Bristol,RI. Totally unexpected, Large golden fried clams. Hard to find another close to it.
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9-01-2007 @2:20PM FLO FROM READING,MA said... WHENEVER I AM IN LAUDERDALE I STOP BY KELLYS LANDING FOR THE FRIED CLAMS.TASTES LIKE HOME.
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9-01-2007 @2:22PM faith said... evelyns drive in Tiverton RI is by far the best clam shack in RI look for them on the food network diners drive ins and dives they were there filming last week.
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9-01-2007 @2:26PM Bob Alberti said... Just had some great fried clams at Arundel Wharf restaurant in Kennebunkport. Small juicy bellies and lightly battered. These can be considered with the best!
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9-01-2007 @2:45PM donald m said... I'm from the north shore ( rockport ) and now live in bangor me. and for sure the best I've ever had is the clam box in ipswich then woodmans in essex and believe me I've been all over new england. I brought a friend with me telling him that if he didn't like them I'd pay. I didn't have to as they were the best that he's ever had. I have been going there for 40 years and will continue.
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9-01-2007 @3:02PM Walt Panus said... I live in Sonoma California now but the best fried clams that I remember from my youth is "Hanks " on route 12 in Plainfield Connecticut !! I visited CT. This year and had Fried Clams there and they every bit as good as I remembered them!! Full bellied OH Man !!
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9-01-2007 @3:06PM Art Shearman said... Any plance in NJ where good fried whole belly clams can be found?
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9-01-2007 @3:10PM Judy Johnstone said... I am a North Shore transplant in Alaska. Ipswich friend clams were the best for me until I had fried clams at a cousin's restaurant in Pugwash, Nova Scotia. I think the clams come from some island near Halifax. They are beyond wonderful.
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9-01-2007 @3:14PM Richard said... Fried clams are good, but you haven't tasted the best clams until you have dug them fresh from the tide flats and cooked them in seaweed over hot coals from a campfire on the shore. Its called a clam bake, but its really steaming them in the natural juices of the seaweed. There is nothing like it.
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9-02-2007 @6:09PM Mike Orenstein said... We've been to Sea Swirl in Mystic, but we think the Sea View, less than 1/2 mile from the entrance of Mystic Seaport, is better. The clams are usually sweeter, and almost always tender. The "view" part is the best, too. The dining area is all outdoors, right on the edge of the Mystic River. From the picnic tables, you can see the Seaport docks and the tall whaling vessel, the Charles W. Morgan.
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9-01-2007 @3:57PM Dee said... Here is an easy clam cake recipie...enjoy
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),
Preperation:
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.
Reply
9-01-2007 @5:12PM Frederick Spires said... I agree with most of th other commentators, The Clam Box in Ipswich is by far the best. I've been in the food business for over 50 years as a chef and what places the "Clam Box" in Ipswich over and above all others in addition to thje taste is the digestability. I lunderstand they change their cooking oil at least once a day, that factor and a good staff of cooks to boot puts them on top. Ceal's are quite good also, but second to the Clam Box. You may have to wait in line for 20 minutes or more, but their worth the wait!
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9-01-2007 @5:24PM Adair said... Dona- in Rhode Island they are called clam fritters and are fabulous!!! All of the beach shacks have them. I hope that helps for your next trip to one of my favorite states! (I grew up there).
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