NATIONAL FRIED CLAM DAY
NATIONAL FRIED CLAM DAY
National Fried Clam Day on July 3rd honors a legendary staple of New England beach culture. Found everywhere from roadside shacks to high-end seafood spots, these crispy, golden morsels are a true American summer tradition. Let’s dive into the fascinating history of this coastal delicacy while snacking on a few ourselves.
#NationalFriedClamDay
Seaside clam shacks or roadside joints serve these delectable nuggets and tend to be the primary source for anyone seeking an authentic batch. The classic clams are dipped in milk and coated with a combination of regular, corn, and/or pastry flour. Then the coated clams are fried in oil. Generally, you have two choices when ordering fried clams:
Clam Strips: Sliced parts of thick, hard-shell surf clams. They are chewy, approachable, and perfect for those who prefer a milder seafood flavor.
Whole-Belly Clams: Made from soft-shell clams (often called "steamers"). Eating the whole clam imparts a much fuller, richer flavor. True seafood purists argue that it isn't a real fried clam unless it includes the belly!
July 3, 1916
In 1914, Lawrence Henry "Chubby" Woodman and his wife Bessie opened a small concession stand on Main Street in Essex, Massachusetts. On weekends, they sold small grocery items, homemade potato chips, and fresh clams that Chubby dug himself. At first, the business was slow. But on July 3, 1916, everything changed.
On that day, Chubby complained to a local fisherman named Tarr who was visiting the stand, "Business is slower than a couple of snails headed uphill."
Tarr, while nibbling on the tasty homemade potato chips, noticed a bucket of clams nearby and jokingly said, "Why don't you fry up some of your clams? If they're as tasty as those potato chips of yours, you'll never have to worry about having enough customers."
Fried clams were unheard of, and two other customers rewarded Tarr's comment with cold stares. "That's ridiculous!" said one. The other one remarked, "Clams have shells." The poor fisherman muttered, "I wasn't serious. It was a joke. I know you can't fry clams like chips!"
However, when the three men left, Chubby and Bessie started to think about it. What if they did fry up some of the clams and sold them? If they tasted good, they would have created a way to increase the demand for their own shucked clams.
"Let's try it," Bessie said as she tossed a slab of lard into the fry pot usually used to make potato chips. They shucked some clams and experimented with different batters, having some locals try them out. When the overall verdict was "delicious!" they knew they were on to something big.
July 4, 1916
The next day, during the 4th of July parade, Chubby and Bessie presented the first fried clams to the citizens of Essex. The Yankee appetite has never been the same since. A year later a Boston fish market advertised "now equipped to serve the new tasty treat - fried clams." And Howard Johnson, owner of a chain of restaurants on the East Coast, came himself to learn how to make fried clams from Chubby.
On the backside of their wedding certificate, Lawrence and Bessie wrote what they considered to be important family events. The first two lines were the birth dates of their two oldest sons, Wilbur and Henry. The third line was the other important birth date in the family. It read: "We fried the first fried clam—in the town of Essex, July 3, 1916."
Now, over 100 years and six generations later clams are still frying at Woodman's, where it all began.
3 SIMPLE NATIONAL FRIED CLAM DAY CELEBRATIONS
Celebrating this delicious food holiday is simple--try fried clams!
Visit a local eatery that serves seafood and order a basket of fried clams.
If you live far from the coast, try making your own! Grab some shucked clams, dredge them in milk and corn flour, and fry them until golden brown.
Share your clam feat on social media using the hashtag #NationalFriedClamDay.
NATIONAL FRIED CLAM DAY HISTORY
Woodman's of Essex submitted National Fried Clam Day in May 2015.
The Registrar at National Day Calendar declared National Fried Clam Day to be observed annually on July 3rd.