Posted on 07/03/2023 9:38:25 AM PDT by Red Badger
(Last Updated On: June 27, 2023)
National Fried Clam Day is observed annually on July 3rd. Fried clams are an iconic food in the New England states. Seaside clam shacks or roadside restaurants serve these delectable nuggets and tend to be the primary source for anyone seeking them. The 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. They can be “clam strips” (sliced parts of hard-shell clams) or whole soft-shell clams. Whole soft-shell clams impart a fuller flavor. However, some restaurants remove the clam’s neck.
#NationalFriedClamDay
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, things began to change.
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.”
“Business was lower than a couple of snails headed uphill.” Chubby Woodman
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.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL FRIED CLAM DAY
Go out for dinner with friends and have fried clams. Try your hand at making your own fried clams and share them with family and friends. Post on social media with #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.
July 3rd Celebrated History
1775
George Washington assumes his official role as commander of the Continental Army.
1916
Lawrence and Bessie Woodman fried the first clam at their roadside concession stand in Essex, Massachusetts.
1928
Inventor John Logie Baird demonstrates the transmission of color television for the first time in London.
1985
Back to the Future starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, and Lea Thomason premieres in theatres. The Robert Zemeckis film’s success led to sequels and animated series.
July 3rd Celebrated Birthdays
Franz Kafka – 1883
The author is best known for his German-language novels The Metamorphosis and The Trial.
Dr. Charles Drew – 1904
During World War II, the American surgeon’s research into blood transfusion led to the first large-scale blood bank in the United States.
Dr. Samuel Proctor Massie – 1919
The American chemist is credited with helping to develop drugs to treat infectious diseases.
Harrison Schmitt – 1935
Harrison Schmitt is a retired astronaut who is one of the last living individuals to walk on the moon. After traveling into space on Apollo 17, this retired professor became a senator for New Mexico.
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(Last Updated On: June 27, 2023) NATIONAL EAT YOUR BEANS DAY | JULY 3 National Eat Your Beans Day is a “live healthy” holiday observed every year on July 3rd. This day celebrates the bean vegetable in all sizes, shapes, and colors. Beans (legumes) date back to the early seventh millennium BCE, making them one of the longest-cultivated plants.
#NationalEatYourBeansDay
As they were seven millennia ago, today, beans are a significant source of protein. If you’re looking for complex carbohydrates, folate, fiber, and iron, eat some beans. They are excellent sources for each of those. A very healthy choice for any meal or snack, they are also an excellent source of fiber, low in fat and high in complex carbohydrates, folate, and iron.
There are approximately 40,000 bean varieties in the world.
Only a fraction of these varieties are mass-produced for regular consumption.
Let’s Snack!
That’s a lot of beans! How do we know which ones to choose? Snacking on chickpeas provides us with one of the best choices. Also known as garbanzo beans, these legumes pack a whopping 12.5 grams of fiber, 71 % of the recommended daily intake (RDI) of folate, 84% RDI of Manganese, and 26% RDI of Iron per serving in 1 cup. Add chickpeas to stews like you would any bean. However, they also roast nicely with your favorite herbs and spices for a delicious and healthy snack.
Another tremendous snacking bean is the soybean. For more tips on bean varieties, visit www.medicalnewstoday.com.
With so many choices, celebrating with beans should be a delicious success!
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL EAT YOUR BEANS DAY
Head over to our National Day Recipes page for many recipes to choose from or enjoy a fava bean dip with goat cheese and garlic dip or black bean chili recipe. Use #NationalEatYourBeansDay to share on social media.
NATIONAL EAT YOUR BEANS DAY HISTORY
Our research was unable to identify the creator of National Eat Your Beans Day.
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(Last Updated On: June 27, 2023)
NATIONAL CHOCOLATE WAFER DAY | JULY 3
If you love chocolate, National Chocolate Wafer Day on July 3rd allows you to indulge in a delicately sweet cookie with a history. Have one for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
#ChocolateWaferDay
Also called sugar wafers, these delicate snacks melt in your mouth. Made since the mid-1800s in the United States, makers called the cookies many names; wafer cookies, sugar wafers, sugar biscuits, fairy wafers. While many enjoyed them as snacks, they also became favorite after-dinner treats or served during teas. Lightly flavored and layered with a creamy filling, the thin cookies delight folks of all ages.
Numerous companies produced them in North America. Regardless of the company, each one considered the production of these cookies an art form. They took pride in everything from their ingredients to the employees and the recipe to the packaging. Over time, companies merged. By the 1930s, the number of production companies dwindled.
Today, they remain an American favorite. With a waffle surface pattern and thin layers, these cookies make an excellent addition to ice cream. Use them as an ingredient in cakes and cheesecakes. While you’re baking, use them to decorate, too. If you prefer pie, crushed wafers make a delicious chocolate crust. There are so many ways chocolate wafers can be enjoyed. If you’ve never tried them, this holiday is the time to give them a whirl.
No matter where or how you are eating your wafers, these tasty treats are positively worth celebrating!
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL CHOCOLATE WAFER DAY
While you’re picking up a few to celebrate, be sure to share with a friend. Maybe play a game of Jenga with them while you snack. Build a log cabin. Remember, they are chocolate. Dip them in your coffee or top a couple on a cupcake for someone’s birthday! Post on social media using #ChocolateWaferDay to encourage others to join in the day.
NATIONAL CHOCOLATE WAFER DAY HISTORY
Our research was unable to identify the creator of National Chocolate Wafer Day.
Triple Ping!....................
Today is ‘National Eat Your Beans Day’?
I guess tomorrow is ‘National Keep Your Windows Open Day’.
I actually remember my first plate of fried clams as a kid..............
I’m sure I avoided them then. Calamari, too. Love it now.
The whole meal is covered.
Clams for hors d’oeuvres.
Beans for the main course.
Chocolate wafer for desert.
The wine selection is personal choice.
Suggest for the clams, sauvignon blanc, for the beans, chardonnay, and the wafers, port style wines including late-harvest Syrah, Pinot Noir and Petite Sirah. If dark chocolate, a chianti.
But be careful with the third course as both wines and chocolate are aphrodisiacs and can lead to another course.
wy69
Mmmm, all on the same plate!
Main course, Side and a dessert!.....................
A day, a week, a month for just about anything one can think of.
When will this absurdity end?
I was slightly disappointed.
I thought it was like eating breaded rubber bands.................
We LOVE fried clams. Hard to find in Nebraska, though.
Those are clam strips. Worthless! You need the whole belly clams with a heaping of steamers to boot. Come to New England, I’ll show ya.
We LOVE fried clams. Hard to find in Nebraska, though.
Great now my GF wants to go out later for fried clams....
Even here in eastern MA where apparently the fried clam was invented and clams are all under our local beaches a plate of full-bellied fried clams goes for around 30+ bucks.
Drives me nuts how much they cost..
Get her the fried clams.
Enjoy the dessert...................
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