When is National Clams On The Half Shell Day?
Friday March 31stOn the Half Shell Day, clam enthusiasts will have a day to celebrate one of the world's most popular dishes.
The best variety of hardshell clams (also called Quahogs) for serving on the half-shell is the topneck, but you'll also find recipes using littlenecks and cherrystone. The topnecks measure about two inches across, and the meaty clam is just right for a bite-sized morsel of Atlantic saltwater goodness.
On the half shell, clams can be raw, steamed, grilled, or even smoked.
Rhode Island is home to one of Rhode Island's most popular "on the half shell" dish. Clams Casino is often served as an appetizer, and it features toasted breadcrumbs and bacon. Legend has it, Clam Casino's recipe dates back to 1917 and the Little Casino in Narragansett, Rhode Island, Rhode Island. Good Housekeeping Julius Keller and Mrs. Paran Stevens created clams casino for her guests after the hotel, as she wanted to create something unique and named it after the hotel. Word spread, and the dish soon became so popular, that it began to appear on menus around the country.
