What is National Clams On The Half Shell Day?
On the Half Shell Day, the clams will be on display in a day to celebrate one of the world's most unique dishes.
The topneck is the best variety of hardshell clams (also called Quahogs) for serving on the half-shell, but you will also find recipes using littlenecks and cherrystone.. About two inches across, the topnecks are about two inches wide, and the meaty clam is large enough for a bite-sized morsel of Atlantic saltwater goodness.
Clams on the half shell can be raw, steamed, grilled, or even smoked.
In Rhode Island, one of Rhode Island's most popular "on the half shell" dish originated. Clams Casino is a dish with toasted breadcrumbs and bacon, often served as an appetizer. Legend has it that the Clam Casino recipe dates back to 1917 and the Little Casino in Narragansett, Rhode Island, Rhode Island. According to 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. The dish soon became so popular, word spread, that it began to appear on menus around the country, and it soon became ubiquitous.
