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poltr1One of my ongoing food traditions has been to eat clams on the half shell on the 4th of July. Unfortunately, it's not an item that the local Kroger carries. They had some jumbo shrimp today, along with some jumbo scallops, on sale, so I got some and froze them for later consumption.
the Dorothy Lane Market has clams in stock! (Meijer probably does too, but it's been a while since I actually looked for them there. Ditto that for Cub Foods.)
For me, raw clams bring back happy memories of childhood. My dad would buy some clams (usually not on the 4th), open them with a special clam knife that he made at work from scrap metal (he was a tinsmith and sheet metal worker), season them with vinegar, hot sauce, and ketchup, and we would share them. It was a treat.
There was a place on Grand Island, NY -- I think it was Bedell's on the River -- that served steamed clams and hot clam broth (in a foam cup). Those were good too.
I've discovered the hard way that clams aren't very easy to open. First, they need to be coaxed open a little. Then the knife has to go in along the inside of both shells to sever the tendon that attaches the clam to its shell. Then the shells are broken apart. And then I slurp 'em down.
I've also had raw oysters, but I've never shucked them myself. The rule of thumb I've heard is to never eat raw oysters in months that do not contain "R" (i.e. the months from May-August).
I also love many other types of seafood, even since I was little. I especially love shrimp (shrimps?), scallops, and crabmeat. Two great ways to cook shrimp: on the grill (or "barbie" as they call it Down Under) on skewers by themselves or with veggies (seafood kebabs!), or boiled with sea salt and Old Bay seasoning. On the bad side, shrimp are high in cholesterol.
It's been a long time since I've eaten lobster. I'm sure that I'll inflict the wrath of Bobo the Lobster God if I do.
One of my parents' friends used to serve marinated octopus around Christmas time. I wish I had the recipe. It was good.
Of course, I also love most types of sushi too. Mackerel is a little too fishy for me, though.
The only seafood I don't like is pan-fried squid. Yuck. My mom used to make it and the whole house smelled like squid for a week. Also, I don't like seeing fish heads on my plate. Something about my food staring back at me gives me the willies.
So, where's the nearest raw bar that I can indulge in seafood ecstasy? I think there's on on N. Main St. in Dayton called the Shuckin' Shack. I hope they're still open. Stan's Oyster Bar (aka S.O.B.'s) in Springfield closed years ago. I wasn't too impressed with the Joe's Crab Shack in town. (I went once on a Saturday night and it was packed to the gills.)
If I ever make it to the east coast on vacation, whether it's Boston, NYC, Philly, Baltimore, DC, Virginia Beach, the Outer Banks, Jekyll Island, or Florida, I'm sure there will be plenty of raw bars no matter where I go. Unless the heath regulations and health scares put them out of business.
the Dorothy Lane Market has clams in stock! (Meijer probably does too, but it's been a while since I actually looked for them there. Ditto that for Cub Foods.)
For me, raw clams bring back happy memories of childhood. My dad would buy some clams (usually not on the 4th), open them with a special clam knife that he made at work from scrap metal (he was a tinsmith and sheet metal worker), season them with vinegar, hot sauce, and ketchup, and we would share them. It was a treat.
There was a place on Grand Island, NY -- I think it was Bedell's on the River -- that served steamed clams and hot clam broth (in a foam cup). Those were good too.
I've discovered the hard way that clams aren't very easy to open. First, they need to be coaxed open a little. Then the knife has to go in along the inside of both shells to sever the tendon that attaches the clam to its shell. Then the shells are broken apart. And then I slurp 'em down.
I've also had raw oysters, but I've never shucked them myself. The rule of thumb I've heard is to never eat raw oysters in months that do not contain "R" (i.e. the months from May-August).
I also love many other types of seafood, even since I was little. I especially love shrimp (shrimps?), scallops, and crabmeat. Two great ways to cook shrimp: on the grill (or "barbie" as they call it Down Under) on skewers by themselves or with veggies (seafood kebabs!), or boiled with sea salt and Old Bay seasoning. On the bad side, shrimp are high in cholesterol.
It's been a long time since I've eaten lobster. I'm sure that I'll inflict the wrath of Bobo the Lobster God if I do.
One of my parents' friends used to serve marinated octopus around Christmas time. I wish I had the recipe. It was good.
Of course, I also love most types of sushi too. Mackerel is a little too fishy for me, though.
The only seafood I don't like is pan-fried squid. Yuck. My mom used to make it and the whole house smelled like squid for a week. Also, I don't like seeing fish heads on my plate. Something about my food staring back at me gives me the willies.
So, where's the nearest raw bar that I can indulge in seafood ecstasy? I think there's on on N. Main St. in Dayton called the Shuckin' Shack. I hope they're still open. Stan's Oyster Bar (aka S.O.B.'s) in Springfield closed years ago. I wasn't too impressed with the Joe's Crab Shack in town. (I went once on a Saturday night and it was packed to the gills.)
If I ever make it to the east coast on vacation, whether it's Boston, NYC, Philly, Baltimore, DC, Virginia Beach, the Outer Banks, Jekyll Island, or Florida, I'm sure there will be plenty of raw bars no matter where I go. Unless the heath regulations and health scares put them out of business.
no subject
Date: 2004-07-11 08:57 am (UTC)What county fairs have you been to, other than the Erie County (NY) fair? The county fairs around here seem small by comparison. (I've driven by them, but haven't stopped in.)