[SamAdams76]

The "grittiness" of clam bellies is due to the grains of beach sand that is in them. I actually prefer gritty clam bellies as it tells me that these clams are fresh and not overly processed. Reminds me of the days we used to go clam-digging and then steam the clams that very evening in a large pot over an open fire (with a few lobsters thrown in).

After a good night sleep, I remember a little more about the McDonald's clam roll. It was actually called the "McClam Belly Roll" on the menu and I'm now pretty sure it was summer of 1979 that these were available as I remember driving there to get them and I had gotten my drivers license for the first time in April of 1979.

[thecodont]

I’ve dug clams (and cooked and eaten them) and know what it’s like to have “a bit of beach” in each clam. Cape Cod restaurants that served fresh fried clams (whole clams, strip plus belly) had that bit of grit in each bite.