New England clam bake
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The New England Clam Bake is a traditional method of cooking a variety of foods, especially seafood such as lobster and quahogs. Clam bakes are usually held annually and on festive occasions along the coast of New England.
A typical clam bake begins with a few trips to the shore line to gather fresh seaweed, an important tool in cooking the food. Seaweed that is collected should be in an area that is not under National Park Service protection and that is free of pollution. A container large enough to hold both the seaweed and a fair amount of the sea water is necessary to keep the seaweed fresh. The seaweed is often gathered on the morning of the clam bake to ensure freshness.
Also important are stones to be heated in the fire and used for cooking. These stones are usually granite or other stones found near the shore line. A smooth and even rounded stone allows for more even distribution of heat and resists shattering at the high temperatures necessary for a clam bake.
Lastly, like most other methods of steaming, a cover is necessary to allow the trapped heat and steam to thoroughly cook the food, especially seafood and raw meat. Canvas tarps or potato sacks are usually used for this purpose.
With stones and seaweed collected, a pit is prepared for the fire to heat the stones for cooking. Some prefer to simply start a fire within the pit, while others line the edges with flat stones to provide support for a rebar grill to place the stones on, while still others prefer to use a pit dug out on the beach so that the pile may be covered to "bake" under the sand. The stones used for cooking are then placed in the center of the pit and a wood fire is started, although the exact method of heating the stones varies from one method to another. The fire must burn until the stones inside are glowing hot, but not for too long after that, so care must be taken to ensure the fire will burn out shortly after this optimal cooking temperature is achieved. The ashes are then swept off of the stones and raked between them. A layer of wet seaweed is place over the stones, followed by traditional regional foods such as clams, mussels, quahogs, and lobsters. Side dishes usually include potatoes, corn on the cob, linguica, carrots, and onions. Additional layers of seaweed and food are piled on top and the entire mound is covered with canvas that has been drenched in sea water to seal in the heat and provide additional steam. Some may prefer to use beer to soak the canvas. The food is allowed to cook for several hours, then the canvas and seaweed are removed and the food is served.
Since many locales outlaw building fires on beaches these days, most people cook this dish in a large pot. This is known as a New England Clam Boil. There are some caterers that specialize in clam bakes done on beaches.
[edit] Trivia
A clam bake is sometimes used as slang for a party or gathering where women greatly outnumber men (In contrast to a sausage fest).
