Lobster gets the love. But fried clams — the real deal Whole belly fried clams — Summer among the rocky bays, coves and inlets of coastal New England has a distinctive regional flavor.
new England Lobster is enjoyed Almost anywhere and almost any time of the year.
Fried clams are sold almost exclusively in New England at seaside take-out eateries — clam shacks — most of which are open only from spring through summer.
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“Clams don’t freeze, they don’t travel well and they don’t survive long,” said Maureen Woodman of Woodman’s. Essex, MassachusettsFox News Digital was told it’s a culinary milestone.
The Woodman family is widely acclaimed for inventing fried clams.
Whole fried clams, a seasonal seafood flavor typical of summer in New England. Tony’s Clams, Quincy, Massachusetts. (Kerry J. Byrne/Fox News Digital)
According to the eatery’s website, concession-stand owners Chubby and Bessie Woodman, who are Maureen Woodman’s grandparents, got the inspiration to peel and shred the clams from a local fisherman.
He fried the coated clams in hot fat.
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“next day, 4th of July Parade“Chubby and Bessie introduced the first fried clams to the citizens of Essex,” the Woodman’s website states. “The world has never been the same since!”
Whole-bellied fried clams in New England disappear somewhere along the way New York City.then…puff! They went faster than a seagull swooping down to snatch a fried clam that has fallen off the pier.
On the left, a clam strip at Grand Central Oyster Bar in New York City. On the right, a plump, delicious whole-belly fried clam from New England. (Kerry J. Byrne/Fox News Digital)
Just 30 miles across the Connecticut border in New England, fried clams can be found served at seafood restaurants in New York City.
But the so-called “fried clams” sold in Gotham are usually a horrific imposter. It’s the creepy clam strip. It’s the arms of the clam without the belly. It’s a hoax.
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Vincent Errichetti, founder of Taste of Massachusetts, told Fox News Digital, “Clam strips are terrible. They’re terrible!”
He further said, “They are stupid. Extremely stupid.”
All the flavor of fried clams is found in the belly. Its soft, fleshy center of umami also provides contrast with the crunchy cornmeal crust. It’s a duality of textures that’s essential to many dishes.
Massachusetts is the birthplace of fried clams.
It’s New England’s most populous state and has the largest concentration of seaside clam shacks.
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Here are five of the best.
Massachusetts’ 5 Favorite Clam Shacks
Classic full-belly fried clams are served throughout New England, usually at seasonal seaside eateries like Tony’s Clam Shop on Wollaston Beach in Quincy, Massachusetts. (Kerry J. Byrne/Fox News Digital)
1. Giordano’s, Oak Bluffs (Martha’s Vineyard)
This popular summer eatery, and its plain old picnic benches for takeaway, are located in the heart of the town of Oak Bluffs on the resort island of Martha’s Vineyard.
The community is famous for its Gingerbread Village, with quaint pastel-colored Victorian-style homes lining the sparkling oceanfront.
This is a postcard spot for classic fried clams.
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2. Kelly’s Roast Beef, Revere
Yes, roast beef is on the marquee. But Kelly’s is just as famous for its fried clams as it is for its signature sandwiches.
It’s a local culinary destination located on Revere Beach, the oldest public beach in the United States.
3. Sullivan, South Boston
Larry Brown takes a selfie with his wife Nancy while waiting in line at Sullivan’s annual opening day on February 24, 2018 at Castle Island in Boston. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Bostonians celebrate the arrival of spring with Opening Day at Fenway Park and the first-ever clam frying at Sullivan’s, a takeaway-only spot on the Castle Island historic site.
Sullivan’s next is Fort Independence, a mighty granite-built 17th-century stronghold – Castle Island Fort – at the mouth of Boston Harbor.
4. Tony Clams, Quincy
This iconic spot serves up crispy fried clams and other summer culinary delights along busy Wollaston Beach.
The patio overlooks the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Parks and is a short distance from Adams National Historical Park.
5. Woodmans, Essex
The Woodman of Essex restaurant in Essex, Massachusetts, pictured on April 24, 2020, has been offering take-out since the coronavirus pandemic began. (Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
The birthplace of fried clams is always popular and is one of the few clam shacks that are open year-round.
The family that invented fried clams in 1916 still makes fried clams today.
Maureen Woodman said the eatery employs 38 family members.
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“this really Dining from the Edge to the Table,” He said.
“You dig them up. You peel them. You roast them. You eat them. Bang!”
