A clambake on the beach will be a real treat for anyone who likes to cook lobster meat and other seafood in the traditional way. It is a common way to prepare seafood in the New England coastal areas and is a ritual you will long remember. Begin by digging a pit in the sand. Then place a number of smooth stones in the center of the pit.
The wood for the fire is arranged on the rocks, ignited and allowed to burn to ash. The ashes are cautiously swept aside, allowing the hot rocks to cook the food. You should take care to make sure the fire will burn out briefly after the optimal cooking temperature is attained The ashes are then swept away from the stones and creased between them to build an insulating bottom.
From the shoreline, seaweeds are collected and piled against the rocks. Then potatoes, onions, lobsters, clams, and even corn (in their husks) are placed onto the pit. At this point, a layer of seaweed blankets a canvas (dampened by ocean water) in order to contain the heat. Then, the whole meal is steamed for many hours, thus converting the food into a scrumptious meal.
It takes an entire day to prepare and cook a traditional New England clambake. Some people love to do it themselves. Other prefer to hire a caterer to do the work. Sometimes the feast is baked in a large pot. This is often necessary in places where fires are not allowed on the beach.
In a traditional New England clambake, the food is heated in a pit that is dug on the beach and lined with rocks. This method was in use in the New England area before the English arrived. There are other alternatives, like the New England Clam Boil, which uses a metal pot to cook the food, rather than a pit.
A lobster clambake can be cooked in your yard in a metal can, or in a steamer in your kitchen. Otherwise hire a caterer who may cook it in cooking vessels which are heated by burning. Even you will be able to buy already cooked clambake from a store.
If you like traditional methods of cooking, then the New England clambake method may be something to try at your next summer gathering. If you have access to a beach where you can light fires, some firewood, and smooth stones then you can have a clambake. Traditionally, one digs a pit in the sand, covers it with smooth stones, and then firewood on top. Light the fire, let it burn to heat the stones. Clear away the ashes and lay seaweed on top of the rocks. Toss in your lobster meat or other seafood, cover with another layer of seaweed and you have your own lobster clambake.
- Matthew Lewis
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