National Clams on the Half Shell Day 2023: Date, History, Facts

On March 31, National Clams on the Half Shell Day, seafood lovers won’t be clammy about their love for clams because they finally get to consume these meaty saltwater animals that they have likely been clamouring for for months.

As a relative of oysters, these bivalve mollusks are most delicious when sautéed, steamed, or grilled. Let’s get together and work up an appetite for raw mussels on the half shell with cocktail sauce and mignonette!

The background of National Clams on the Half Shell Day

Clams are classified as bivalve mollusks; they first appeared approximately 510 million years ago and are small, rotund, and meaty. They inhabit freshwater or marine environments and are one of the most sought-after crustaceans, along with oysters and scallops.

The mollusk is encased in two shells that are hinged and connected by an internal or external ligament. There are more than 150 edible species of clams in the world, and somewhere between 12,000 and 15,000 total species. The majority of our favourite species are found in the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf Coast, including the hard-shelled quahog and the medium-sized cherrystone clams, as well as the soft-shelled clams that are typically steamed and the surf clams.
The Pacific Ocean is home to numerous species, including the littleneck, Manila, and butter mussels.

South Pacific Ocean species of giant clams weigh 440 pounds, are inedible, and can live up to 100 years. Sadly, they continue to be endangered. Clams have played a significant role in the littoral population’s diet. They spend half of their existence buried in the seabed and are dug up at low tide for cooking.

National Clams on the Half Shell Day’s true origins are unknown, but the famous clams casino dish with its combination of crispy breadcrumbs, bacon, and bell peppers dates back to 1917. The maitre d’hôtel at the Little Casino in Narragansett, Rhode Island, served the special dish to her guests and christened it after the hotel. When patrons bit into the succulent, smoked meat and the stuffed topping, they were astounded. Instantly popular, the cuisine appeared on the menus of numerous restaurants across the United States.

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5 CLAMS FACTS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND

They lack ears, eyes, noses, and, according to some, even a cerebral structure; it’s no wonder they inhabit shells!

The fact that clams have a heart, kidneys, intestines, nervous system, and anus may come as a surprise if you assumed they are simply blobs.

The nickname ‘Ming’ was given to the longest known living clam, which was discovered to be over 500 years old.

Not all clams are small and edible; a giant clam can develop up to four feet in length, which we cannot consume.

The origin of the famous English expression “clam up” is the clam, which closes its shell when stroked and is an entirely silent creature.

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NATIONAL CLAMS ON THE HALF SHELL DAY DATES