Paging New Englanders, New England Clambake fans, and music people.

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I have a question for you. My husband and I are hosting a dinner party and the theme is New England Clambake. For our parties, we like to go as all-out as possible. Now, we don't live in New England and the closest thing to a beach where we will be hosting this party is a lake. So we have to improvise. I found a recipe online where I can have my "clambake" on the stove. We will still make clams, crabs, lobster, and other seafood and instead of seaweed, we are using spinach. A friend gave me a recipe for some pudding that you make in buckets and looks like sand. We will buy some nautical decorations, too. Do you have other suggestions for food? Any decorations that are a must? Finally, we feel we need a soundtrack to be playing while people are eating and mingling. Song suggestions? Last year, your dinner theme was tropical luau and we had great music for that, so I'm hoping to make this one pretty great, as well. I'm worried about accidentally venturing into more tropical music rather than New England beach style stuff. I was thinking about Beyond the Sea by Bobby Darin, but no other real idea. Can you help me out?

Oh, and if this crazy southerner is completely off on how to do a New England Clambake style party, please tell me.

 

[mickeyboat]

There must be corn on the cob and a bonfire to dance around.

There was an Elvis Presley movie called Clambake. I bet there is soundtrack.

 

[kim929]

We always did a clam boil which is cooked on the stove. Big pot, we filled a cheesecloth with breakfast sausage then add onions, potatoes, Chourico (portugese sausage. it is different then chirzo) some people put hotdogs in also, salt, pepper when that is almost done, add steamers and lobsters.

My bil every summer would have a clam bake at the beach house, but the company he used didn't cook it at the house, they brought it to the house. There would be lobsters, potatoes, corn and steamers.

As for music I would go with the Beach Boys and Jimmy Buffet.
Sounds like your going to have a great party.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

You need things for people who don't like seafood. Sausages are common, with grilled peppers and onions. (I suppose a vegetarian option would be good, too.) If you lived in the Northeast, Christmas Tree Shops would be a great place to buy your decorations - right now they're putting out all the summer things and they have starfish lights, platters, paper goods, etc. fairly cheap.

 

[Monte Cristo]

Any self respecting New England clambake isn't complete without stuffies, chowder, and clam cakes.

In my mind, and I may be being a little too technical, but a clambake and a clam boil are 2 different things. A clam boil is as noted above, done on the stove with the steamers, potatoes, onions, chourizo, hot dogs, sausage. A clambake, is usually done at the beach, or the back yard, whatever, and done in a pit. This would have lobster, clams, potatoes, corn, mussels, and milk based chowder.

Clam cakes...I've done them before, it's really not hard....you just need to have access to a deep fryer and get the consistency on the batter right.

I can't help you with the music...I don't know what New England style music is.

 

[anniemae]

For music I would say Beach Boys, James Taylor (his uplifting stuff!), Carly Simon (she lives on Marthas Vineyard).

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

There must be corn on the cob and a bonfire to dance around.

There was an Elvis Presley movie called Clambake. I bet there is soundtrack.

Mmm. I love corn on the cob. I'll check out the soundtrack, too. Thanks.

We always did a clam boil which is cooked on the stove. Big pot, we filled a cheesecloth with breakfast sausage then add onions, potatoes, Chourico (portugese sausage. it is different then chirzo) some people put hotdogs in also, salt, pepper when that is almost done, add steamers and lobsters.

My bil every summer would have a clam bake at the beach house, but the company he used didn't cook it at the house, they brought it to the house. There would be lobsters, potatoes, corn and steamers.

As for music I would go with the Beach Boys and Jimmy Buffet.
Sounds like your going to have a great party.

Stupid question: What are steamers?

You need things for people who don't like seafood. Sausages are common, with grilled peppers and onions. (I suppose a vegetarian option would be good, too.) If you lived in the Northeast, Christmas Tree Shops would be a great place to buy your decorations - right now they're putting out all the summer things and they have starfish lights, platters, paper goods, etc. fairly cheap.

Luckily there isn't a person in our group that is a vegetarian, so that is not something we have to worry about. Do you know if I can order from Christmas Tree Shops online? I really don't see how I can justify a trip to New England just to buy decorations to my husband.

Any self respecting New England clambake isn't complete without stuffies, chowder, and clam cakes.

In my mind, and I may be being a little too technical, but a clambake and a clam boil are 2 different things. A clam boil is as noted above, done on the stove with the steamers, potatoes, onions, chourizo, hot dogs, sausage. A clambake, is usually done at the beach, or the back yard, whatever, and done in a pit. This would have lobster, clams, potatoes, corn, mussels, and milk based chowder.

Clam cakes...I've done them before, it's really not hard....you just need to have access to a deep fryer and get the consistency on the batter right.

I can't help you with the music...I don't know what New England style music is.

Well we just have to go with a clambake theme. We want the feel of the clambake but will be up in Iowa where we aren't exactly near a beach. I like your clambake menu as I think it goes along with what we are looking for. Would you cook all of them in the same pit?

For music I would say Beach Boys, James Taylor (his uplifting stuff!), Carly Simon (she lives on Marthas Vineyard).

Got it. No Fire and Rain and lots of You're So Vain.

 

[anniemae]

steamers are steamed clams.

Oh, and if you need a bonafide New Englander to attend the party, I'm sure many of us would be happy to attend!!!

 

[dogluva]

Any self respecting New England clambake isn't complete without stuffies, chowder, and clam cakes.

In my mind, and I may be being a little too technical, but a clambake and a clam boil are 2 different things. A clam boil is as noted above, done on the stove with the steamers, potatoes, onions, chourizo, hot dogs, sausage. A clambake, is usually done at the beach, or the back yard, whatever, and done in a pit. This would have lobster, clams, potatoes, corn, mussels, and milk based chowder.

Clam cakes...I've done them before, it's really not hard....you just need to have access to a deep fryer and get the consistency on the batter right.

I can't help you with the music...I don't know what New England style music is.

What is a stuffie? I have worked and attended many clambakes and have no clue what this is. I have lived 45 min from Boston and 20 minutes from the beach all my life too.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

LOL Stuffed clams/quahogs I presume

 

[anniemae]

I think a stuffie is a stuffed quahog.

 

[SwimBikeRun]

A true clambake is pretty hard to pull off as unless you are a pro. Stuff just doesn't cook that well in a sandpit on the beach. LOL

There is a great recipe for a clambake in a pot and she dumps a whole bottle of chardonnay in there too! Is it Ina Garten? I'll look.

I'm not a native New Englander but have lived here for 10 years and have cooked plenty o lobstah and the like.

I enjoy a pot of mussels in white wine and garlic with good crusty bread to soak up the juices. They are so easy!

I'd also suggest:

hot dogs for the kids

we usually enjoy baked potatoes as opposed to putting the potatoes in with the "bake". some of the lobster shacks also serve french fries (kid friendly)

corn on the cob

s'mores for dessert (Other finger foods work well - you are going to be stuffed after all that food.) OR

Blueberry something: crisp, pie, crumble, etc. Blueberries are very New England. Apples and maple are too so you can go that route.

deep fried scallops, clams and fish is also traditional NE food. Baked haddock is also superb as is cod.

Don't forget the homemade cole slaw! Great recipes online.

As for music going back to Elvis's clambake would be a lot of fun. Beach Boys would work and also New England artists.

Have fun.

Here's a famous clambake catering menu:

http://www.woodmans.com/catering/menus/

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Stupid question: What are steamers?

You take it out of the shell, rinse it in the water you steamed it in, then swirl in melted butter and eat!

Do you know if I can order from Christmas Tree Shops online? I really don't see how I can justify a trip to New England just to buy decorations to my husband.

I don't think they have online ordering. Too bad, you would love it!

Ooh, just looked it up - there is one in Dallas, TX! http://www.christmastreeshops.com/texas.html

 

[dogluva]

steamers are steamed clams.

Oh, and if you need a bonafide New Englander to attend the party, I'm sure many of us would be happy to attend!!!

Don't forget to save the water you boiled them in to rinse off the clam before you dunk it in the butter. My husband is from New York and forgets to do this. Also we cook them with cut up onions.