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I was born in and grew up along the Mass coast. Fried Clams were MY food. Whole belly ones. Lobsters were good, of course, especially the nooks and crannies in the bodies, but they couldn’t compare to clams. And then I married NJ. Sigh. I missed clams sooooo much!! One time at a sea food restaurant I asked them if they could do Fried Clams. They said yes, and I was all excited. What they did was shuck Cherrystones, bread and fry them -— and proudly served them to me. NOT Fried Clams at all!! Not even as good as the lowly strips!! I hid my disappointment to be polite. But I learned my lesson.

On one trip to Maine with the kids, I had Fried Clams for breakfast, lunch. And dinner. That is what kind of Fried Clam freak I am!!

As I type this I can smell that wonderful fried aroma!!!!

My favorite clam place growing up was Kelly's Fried Clams on Revere Beach. They were expensive, even back then, so it was a rare treat for us. Kelly's has the "clam plate" which is half clam, half french fries with a couple onion rings on top. I remember tricking my younger brother into trading his clams for my french fries. So I'd have a whole plate of clams. My brother was naive enough to think he was getting the better end of the deal. That only lasted a couple of times.

When I got older, my favorite place became Browns Lobster Pound at Hampton Beach in NH. We would always end a day at the beach there. They had a huge covered sitting area with picnic tables and you were able to bring coolers of your own drinks inside including beer and wine. I would either get the fried clams or a bucket of steamers. Sometimes both!

Nothing like that along the coast of Connecticut however. Very disappointing.

Next time you come to Maine, please go here:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/kens-place-scarborough

I gar-on-tee, they have the BEST fried clams on the planet!