Clam experts, weigh in

[Jenise]

So I decided I want to make myself some clam chowder, and while at the Chef Store I looked for a big can of clams to do that with. They had two options, Quahog (or was it Quahogg) and Surf Clams. I've never before seen a choice by species. The Surf Clams were more expensive so that's what I went with hoping for a more deluxe experience, but I have no idea in fact what I just bought. Can any of you New Englanders shed some light on this for me?

I usually look for littlenecks, the smallest size of hard clams, but don't do chowder. Quahogs are the biggest hard clams, usually used for chowder. Topnecks and cherrystones are in between. I THINK surf clams are a different species, and even larger than quahogs. But not something carried by my mongers. But Quahogs I'm sure are the de facto chowder clams.

My fishmonger says to buy the cans of "ocean" clams - they are the ones that will taste like chowder when you cook them.

Googling... aha! I think "ocean" clams are the same as surf clams!

[Jenise]

But Quahogs I'm sure are the de facto chowder clams.

That's what I thought. But I bought the others anyway. We'll see!

Littlenecks, topnecks, cherrystones, and quahogs are all the same species of clam, just different sizes. Surf clams are a different species, as are soft-shell clams (aka steamers). Then there are razor clams, which aren't often sold commercially and which are hard to catch because they can burrow very quickly.

-Paul W.

Found this, nice article, but leaves out the surf clam!
https://www.seriouseats.com/a-guide-to- ... -with-them

[Jenise]

Good article, Dale, thanks.

I've never had a razor clam, though they're here in the Pacific Northwest. I know people who make a ritual out of going clamming whenever F&W declares an open.

I watched a local history program on PBS the other night, speaking of clams, that talked about how the Denny Party managed to arrive here back in the 1800's. Anyone who's spent any time in DT Seattle will recognize the major street named for them. Apparently one of the Mrs. Dennys got here with a two-month old baby boy in crisis as she had stopped producing milk. A first-nation woman then caught clams for her and started feeding the juice to the child, which saved its life. He thrived and eventually prospered here, and was the last surviving scion of that family. Clam juice is good!

Ooh, I like razor clams a lot. You should give them a whirl. (Cooked, not raw.)

[Jenise]

Ooh, I like razor clams a lot. You should give them a whirl. (Cooked, not raw.)

I'd love to, but would definitely want fresh and that's not very likely unless I catch them myself. Which is EXTREMELY unlikely.

My beach is full of other kinds of clams but we never got into that, due to Bob's allergy.

There are Pacific razor clams all up and down the US West Coast. As with their East Coast cousins they dig fast and can be hard to catch.

-Paul W.

I love razors clams, most commonly in Chinese restaurants in black bean sauce.
FIshmonger had some this spring, I steamed over an herby court bouillon. Served warm with herbed melted butter, remainder the next night in a citrus salad.

[Jenise]

Dale, cool that you can get them at a fishmonger's. Around here, would be impossible (first of all, we really don't have fishmongers, and I don't think there's a commercial fishery for razor clams). I look forward to trying them some day. Heck, we can't even buy fresh clams here except on Fridays and Saturdays and even then there are seasonal complications.

Jenise, Atlantic razor clams aren't regularly at my fish guy, which is why I grabbed this spring. But in NYC I think you can often get at big fishmongers like Citarella, and they seem more common in Asian markets (sometimes I see locally at HMart).
I know I saw Pacific razor clams at Pike Place in Seattle/

[Jenise]

Jenise, Atlantic razor clams aren't regularly at my fish guy, which is why I grabbed this spring. But in NYC I think you can often get at big fishmongers like Citarella, and they seem more common in Asian markets (sometimes I see locally at HMart).
I know I saw Pacific razor clams at Pike Place in Seattle/

That's the one place in this state you might see them. Unfortunately, 100 miles away. Wonder how they're caught for commercial purposes--it's not like they'll crawl into a trap.

You have to dig really fast to catch razor clams. It's not just a matter of sticking your shovel in the sand and flipping up as is the case with other clam species. No doubt that's why they are so rarely found in stores and markets.

-Paul W.

[Jenise]

Paul, I'm aware, and presume that's why they're rarely (or in my case, never) available at retail. That's why I was wondering out loud how that ones that showed up at Dale's vendor were caught.