402289 Wed May 16 20:31:23 -0700 2007 28 12 Boston Area 0 2576515 My favorite food as a child was Howard Johnson's fried clams. Since over the years 99.9% of them have closed, I am hoping that I might be able to find a good imitation on our trip to Boston and Maine next month. Am I dreaming? Any recommendations? Wed May 16 20:31:23 -0700 2007 99181 SASSYMI2 1 2576624 Woodman's in Essex has the fried strips with no belles Wed May 16 21:17:36 -0700 2007 2576515 14271 tamerlanenj 2 2576680 I'm from Michigan. What do you mean by "no belles"? Wed May 16 21:39:30 -0700 2007 2576624 99181 SASSYMI2 3 2576800 I think Tamerlanenj meant "no bellies"... the fried clams you get here contain the clam "belly" as well, not just a fried strip of rubber. (I'm from Michigan as well). Wed May 16 22:45:57 -0700 2007 2576680 11275 Prav 4 2576942 Howard Johnson served the fried clam strips, a hard, chewy fried item that is nothing like the fried clams that you would get in New England. The whole clams have bellies, which are soft, sweet and pulpy - delicious. You can order just the strips in some places. Ask first, but beware of looks of disbelief. Most of us up here are purists when it comes to our fried clams! Thu May 17 03:27:03 -0700 2007 2576800 50795 greenstate 5 2576974 I loved the Howard Johnson clams growing up and also the real clams we went out for (clams and lobster were the only fish I'd eat for years). I've actually had some strips that seem like real clams next to those Hojo's ones. I think it was at Farnham's where a friend ordered the strips and I have to say, I enjoyed them. Thu May 17 04:28:50 -0700 2007 2576942 14253 Joanie 3 2577514 yes, I meant no bellies Thu May 17 08:24:54 -0700 2007 2576680 14271 tamerlanenj 1 2576968 What you want are called "Clam strips" not "fried clams" Plenty of places offer them here. Actually a clam strip is not just a fried clam with no belly. Its usually a very large quahaug that has been sliced up into thin strips. Thu May 17 04:20:56 -0700 2007 2576515 10597 hargau 1 2577079 According to Jacques Pépin, Howard Johnson's fried clams were actually "made from the tongues of enormous sea clams whose bodies were used as the base for the restaurants' famous clam chowder." This from a story by him in the NY Times (Apr. 28, 2005) recounting his sojourn in the HJ commissary in Queens around 1960, shortly after his arrival in the US. Pierre Franey worked with him there. Unlikely as it may sound, he regarded the experience as an invaluable part of his training. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/28/opinion/28pepin.html?ex=1272340800&en=d208610a8c5c39ab&ei=5088 Thu May 17 06:04:15 -0700 2007 2576515 38957 seefood 2 2577737 I had always heard it referred to as the "foot" of the surf or sea clam, and just assumed it was like geoduck, which is delicious when cut up and fried, like they do at Peach Farm Seafood. Thu May 17 09:18:20 -0700 2007 2577513 10271 Rubee 3 2579177 Holy cow, I just looked up geoduck on wikipedia. That thing is freaky. Is Pepin talking about a Giant Clam? Thu May 17 15:07:33 -0700 2007 2577737 14271 tamerlanenj 4 2579181 Somewhere 9Lives has pics posted on the end result - both sashimi and fried from Peach Farm. That monster was 4 1/2 pounds. Thu May 17 15:09:06 -0700 2007 2579177 10271 Rubee 3 2580723 omg have you ever had geoduck sushi? It is awesome, I only had it once and was so shocked at how delicate it was.. but I cannot find it locally. Fri May 18 07:15:57 -0700 2007 2577737 54116 gryphonskeeper 4 2580749 Peach Farm in Chinatown has it. Usually East Ocean City too..probably any of the Cantonese live tank seafood places.. you need to buy the whole clam. I've seen it in many sushi bars around town.by the piece. Here's a pic from a recent dinner... http://flickr.com/photos/61246842@N00/408148213/in/set-72157600189533898/ Fri May 18 07:25:12 -0700 2007 2580723 10111 9lives 4 3801082 Fugakyu can get it for you. i did an omakase there that featured several parts of the giant clam and it was awesome. Sat Jun 21 17:15:41 -0700 2008 2580723 12603 ScubaSteve 1 2577755 most places have strips or whole clams fried. Royal Roast Beef and Seafood in Eastie which serves up a very hot fresh and tasty fried clam has the choice. I'm a belly-girl myself, so I cannot vouch for the strips. Doesn't Friendly's also serve the strips? Thu May 17 09:22:48 -0700 2007 2576515 12724 eLizard 2 2580623 Has anyone but me ever wondered where the bellies from all the clam strips go??? I am surprised no one has ever come up with a "bellies Only" fried clam plate,,,,,,yummy! Fri May 18 06:48:28 -0700 2007 2577755 12606 MeffaBabe 3 2580671 If you read above, you will see that clam strips are not whole clams without the bellies. They are in fact sliced quahog, or sea clams as HoJo's used to call them. I hope you find your bellies only fried clams. Sounds good to me. Enjoy, CocoDan Fri May 18 07:01:32 -0700 2007 2580623 12643 CocoDan 4 2581257 I suspect that once you cut the non-belly part of the clam off you'd risk the contents of the belly oozing out. Besides, I like the contrast of the chewy strip part with the more flavorful, tender belly. Fri May 18 09:30:57 -0700 2007 2580671 14386 BobB 5 2582348 The clam strips are completely different from the whole belly clams.as noted above, the strips are cut up larger sea clams....not by removing bellies from "whole clams." Fried, whole belly clams are made by using "soft shelled" clams..or the same clams that you get if you order "steamers." Fri May 18 13:50:02 -0700 2007 2581257 10111 9lives 6 2585550 As has been stated here by a couple of Hounds,clam strips are produced from a very large east-coast native; the Atlantic Surf Clam (Spisula solidissima).They're also commercially processed into chowders, bisques & clam sauces. Often, after on-shore blowing storms you can find them tossed-up onto beaches thru out New England,especially in R.I. BTW, make mine soft shelled bellied clams :-) Sun May 20 02:33:36 -0700 2007 2582348 45436 Harp00n 3 3801084 i think the bellies are processed into 'Clam Base." Sat Jun 21 17:17:11 -0700 2008 2580623 12603 ScubaSteve 1 2581787 If you want the real thing, there appear to be 3 HOJO locations left . Bangor, ME, Lake George and Lake Placid..... http://www.hojoland.com/locations.html Even though I am a whole belly gal, I still have fond memories of those Hojo's clams. We used to go on Wed or Fri nights for the "all you can eat Fish Fry". My god we'd put away alot of those clams!!!! Fri May 18 11:41:17 -0700 2007 2576515 11301 Science Chick 1 2581891 I have a saying: No belly, no Bobby. Fri May 18 12:03:49 -0700 2007 2576515 16490 Bostonbob3 2 2582224 Kelly's has great fried clams too. There is a new location in Everett (on your way to Target). Fri May 18 13:16:24 -0700 2007 2581891 99360 mangotango 3 2582240 Yeah, I like Kelly's fried clams a fair amount. I've only had them at the Revere location though, and it's a bit of an adventure, what with gulls trying to get to the clams in your hand as you sit on a bench by the beach. Mmmmm, gull... Fri May 18 13:20:01 -0700 2007 2582224 16490 Bostonbob3 3 2585063 New location is in Medford at the former Krispy Kremes building at Wellington Circle Sat May 19 18:05:42 -0700 2007 2582224 12606 MeffaBabe 1 3800928 If you log on to HoHoLand.com you will find that there are three remaining Howard Johnson Restaurants in the U.S., One in Lake George, N.Y., one in Lake Placid, N.Y.and one in Bangor, ME. If you are anywhere near Bangor on your Maine trip, you could get the real McCoy rather than a good imitation, if there ireally s such a thing. Sat Jun 21 15:35:28 -0700 2008 2576515 202805 jsilverman01 2 3801118 Hojoland.com --- hoholand might not be work safe. :) Sat Jun 21 17:45:31 -0700 2008 3800928 11275 Prav