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ClamsThe very word brings back memories
of days at the beach, the smells of the
water and rockweed, seagulls, cookouts and
raking for clams. For any real Yankee there
are two types of clams; Little Necks and
all them others. Little necks – sweet tender
little necks – we don’t care if they are
steamed, fried, chowdered or otherwise,
they are the only clams for us.
We know
all about the arguments for cherrystones,
quahogs and razors, and that some chowder
cooks say you can substitute, but little
necks are the pinnacle of clam gastronomy.
When we’d stick our rakes into the sand
and turn over a pile of little necks, the
excitement was like a 49er striking gold.
Only they tasted better.
When it comes to clam chowder, there is
the traditional chowder and then, probably
bored by the long winters, Yankee chef’s
have put their individual spin on clam chowder
recipes. For us, we like it rich, creamy
(not thick and pasty) and simple with lots
of butter, cream and potatoes. And anyone
who puts tomato in clam chowder should be
boiled in the broth. As travel writer Elizabeth
Early said, “tomatoes and clams have no
more affinity than ice cream and horseradish“.
In fact, the Maine state legislature tried
to pass a bill making it illegal to add
tomatoes to clam chowder.
People around the country have developed
chowders unique to regions and we’ve included
a couple from outside the area, including
an award winner from the Santa Cruz California
chowder cook-off. We invite you to join
The Great Chowder Debate by submitting your
clam chowder recipe for all to see.
We love all clams and we understand that
people have different tastes or don’t always
have a source for certain type clams. You
have our sympathy. When we say clams, we’re
only talking about one thing – little necks.
Piles and piles of steaming little necks
in a bowl with lots of butter, clusters
of whole belly little necks fried up into
a piled high clam roll or mounds of chopped
little necks cooked in a chowder – anyway
you cook them up, those are clams. You’ll
excuse me, I have to run. I’m hungry.
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