Cherrystone clams

Does anyone know where one can get delicious fresh Cherrystone Clams in New Jersey....either near us or down by the shore? I know of 2 places where they are truly outstanding....one is Randazzo's in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn and the other is The Oyster House in Philadelphia. You sit at the counter (or bar) and these guys just shuck away endlessly! The Osyter House as $1 a shuck...Randazzos is $19 a dozen. Do we have anything like that here in New Jersey?

MapleBri said:

Does anyone know where one can get delicious fresh Cherrystone Clams in New Jersey....either near us or down by the shore? I know of 2 places where they are truly outstanding....one is Randazzo's in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn and the other is The Oyster House in Philadelphia. You sit at the counter (or bar) and these guys just shuck away endlessly! The Osyter House as $1 a shuck...Randazzos is $19 a dozen. Do we have anything like that here in New Jersey?

No help here, but my parents grew up in Sheepshead. I was born there and have fond memories of visiting my Grandparents on 27th St, between Y and Z. Randazzo’s is one of their old haunts.

Its not that far…

I'd walk into Freemans and ask them.  We love littlenecks and get them at Whole Foods, $25 for a 50-count sack.  We soak them in salty ice water for an hour, then put them on the grill, close the lid, and when the shells open, they're ready to be dunked in a shallot vinegar sauce or melted butter.

Ah, littlenecks. I love 'em. I grew up on the south shore of Long Island, on the Great South Bay, and I'd bike down to the end of the street, wade in, dig around with my feet and fill up a pillowcase with them. My mother would steam them, or even better BBQ them. Unfortunately there are no more clams in the Bay. So sad. 

When I was in high school, I had friends whose dads were professional clammers., working a rake on a flatbed boat 7 days a week. Some of my friends did it in the summer. At that time, a bushel of littlenecks brought in a decent price. 

bak

Soaking clams to cleanse?  Ice water will slow down their vital activity.  If you plan to cook them, ditch the ice. They will stay live for days at room temperature if you have the salinity correct.

bak

i LOVE freemans seafood market; and your suggestion was a good one, so i did call them....however, they DONT carry cherrystone clams......you mentioned Little Necks and for whatever reason, they seem to be easier to find, alot more common....but those Cherrystone Clams have got to be "hidden somewhere" in New Jersey. I cant imagine that in order to sit at a raw-bar, like Randazzos or The Oyster House that you must travel to Brooklyn or Philadelphia. There really should be a nice raw-clam (or raw-oyster) bar SOMEWHERE in our state....????

Can’t help with cherrystones but the Summit Farmer’s Market has a fish vendor who has little necks that are great.  $25 for 50.  They’re very small but very sweet. 

Hope you find them. I’m craving now.

Thanks. ;-)

jimmurphy

Randazzo's....yes, i schlepped there a few weeks ago and the place is "just as i remembered it as well!"....and the boats coming in from a days outting, all looks great...it really is "too bad" that we cant get those cherrystones (yes, i know littlenecks are a whole lot easier) ANYWHERE in New Jersey!

wowwww....nothing in our area; quite surpirsing

I know it’s not the same, but Shop Rite in Livingston today has bags of Little Necks from Long Island. 

MapleBri said:

Does anyone know where one can get delicious fresh Cherrystone Clams in New Jersey....either near us or down by the shore? I know of 2 places where they are truly outstanding....one is Randazzo's in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn and the other is The Oyster House in Philadelphia. You sit at the counter (or bar) and these guys just shuck away endlessly! The Osyter House as $1 a shuck...Randazzos is $19 a dozen. Do we have anything like that here in New Jersey?

 The lobster house in cape may had them.  But that’s a hike.

jamie said:

MapleBri said:

Does anyone know where one can get delicious fresh Cherrystone Clams in New Jersey....either near us or down by the shore? I know of 2 places where they are truly outstanding....one is Randazzo's in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn and the other is The Oyster House in Philadelphia. You sit at the counter (or bar) and these guys just shuck away endlessly! The Osyter House as $1 a shuck...Randazzos is $19 a dozen. Do we have anything like that here in New Jersey?

 The lobster house in cape may had them.  But that’s a hike.

 Is that $3.95 a pound or a dozen? 

The_Soulful_Mr_T said:

 Is that $3.95 a pound or a dozen? 

 Looks like a dozen. Sounds pretty cheap.  They are very evasive though between taking this pic and waiting for my number to be called - they were gone.