Cooking Goddess
Chef Extraordinaire
Who woulda thunk? Northeast Ohio is the clambake capital of the country...in September and October. <That link takes you to an interesting article from the Cleveland Plain Dealer explaining why clams rule during autumns.
When we lived back home, we could always find a clambake somewhere. Our first neighborhood had someone every September who was willing to host a 'bake at their house. Not always the same neighbor, but it pretty much rotated between four families between three streets. We'd all chip in; sometimes the host the heavy lifting (with neighbors' help), and sometimes we'd all kick in a bit extra so we could hire Euclid Fish to do the work.
If the neighborhood 'bake ended up on a day you already had plans, no problem. You could find a clambake or ten at a restaurant almost any weekend in September or October. One restaurant was normally closed on Mondays, but in season they would offer themselves up for a private 'bake Himself's office arranged one, and it was open to friends and family of employees. SIL loved lobster and clams, her hubby not so much. He stayed home with their daughter, and she tagged along with us. First came the clambroth. Next the servings of clams. Then a bowl of chowder, followed by the chicken/corn/potatoes/optional lobster, PLUS a side of spaghetti with clam sauce. At this point my dear SIL pipes up with "what's for dessert? Clam meringue pie?". Himself says it was the first time his sister got him to spew.
After living in MA for a couple years, and enjoying the conviviality of our neighborhood and our annual summer Block Party, I suggested we do a clam bake in September. Everyone looked at me as if I had two heads! I guess when you live by clams, the idea of a 'bake is too ordinary.
When we lived back home, we could always find a clambake somewhere. Our first neighborhood had someone every September who was willing to host a 'bake at their house. Not always the same neighbor, but it pretty much rotated between four families between three streets. We'd all chip in; sometimes the host the heavy lifting (with neighbors' help), and sometimes we'd all kick in a bit extra so we could hire Euclid Fish to do the work.
If the neighborhood 'bake ended up on a day you already had plans, no problem. You could find a clambake or ten at a restaurant almost any weekend in September or October. One restaurant was normally closed on Mondays, but in season they would offer themselves up for a private 'bake Himself's office arranged one, and it was open to friends and family of employees. SIL loved lobster and clams, her hubby not so much. He stayed home with their daughter, and she tagged along with us. First came the clambroth. Next the servings of clams. Then a bowl of chowder, followed by the chicken/corn/potatoes/optional lobster, PLUS a side of spaghetti with clam sauce. At this point my dear SIL pipes up with "what's for dessert? Clam meringue pie?". Himself says it was the first time his sister got him to spew.
After living in MA for a couple years, and enjoying the conviviality of our neighborhood and our annual summer Block Party, I suggested we do a clam bake in September. Everyone looked at me as if I had two heads! I guess when you live by clams, the idea of a 'bake is too ordinary.