Sunday, November 23, 2008

New England Style Clambake - A Unique and Healthy Feast

By Sherry Shantel

A New England style clambake, which is a traditional celebration in New England, is gaining popularity outside the region for its being healthy and unique at the same time. Originally practiced by Native Americans, the cooking method indeed quickly became tradition.

Nowadays, the popularity of the New England clambake has spread all over the coast, and inland areas as well. This unique gathering idea actually started as a way to prepare the bountiful seafood that the fishermen caught from the Atlantic Ocean.

Seafood at a New England clambake is prepared traditionally by steaming but some people prefer to cook it on a grill. This food includes live lobster or lobster bisque, scallops, shrimp, shellfish, mussels, clams and clam chowder, corn on the cob, potatoes, onions, and carrots. The steaming process can take as little as a few hours to an entire day depending upon the taste. Once the steaming is over, the food is served with lemon wedges and butter.

One of the reasons why lots of party people opt for a clambake is because its fresh and different. It's somehow considered as unique from all of the dinner parties people usually attend. With a new gathering idea for an option, guests would surely be glad to be part of the event.

As food enthusiasts may all know, seafood is healthy since it is low-calorie and low-fat guaranteed and with a clambake, the meals are prepared through steaming which will further lessen calories. This is another reason why a New England clambake is a good option for parties. It's undeniably healthy compared to the usual barbecues and cookouts. Even the side dishes are vegetables, so to those who are dieting, well, they can still enjoy the lovely feast.

A clambake can be simple or extravagantly complicated, if you like. With a simple clambake, meals can be prepared in a home steamer inside the house. However, this doesn't really follow the tradition as the best clambakes would be held outdoors with friends helping to prepare the meals.

The New England style clambake's success has been passed on from generations to generations. It can be adapted to any celebration of any style and size. A nice clambake party will not only place you in the mainstream of this historical tradition, but will also be a memory worth reminiscing.

Even though the New England style clambake is something you would normally have to be in New England to enjoy, it doesn't have to be that way. Thanks to the technology surrounding the Internet as well as the introduction of readily available overnight delivery, you can now enjoy a traditional New England clambake anywhere in the continental USA. You now no longer have any excuses not to participate in this fresh seafood feast!

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