Quahog Week Kicks Off in Rhode Island

Celebrate Rhode Island’s seventh annual Quahog Week from April 23-29 by purchasing, preparing and eating dishes showcasing Rhode Island’s famous hard shell clams. This week-long celebration shines a light on Rhode Island’s favorite local clam, the hard-working men and women who harvest them year-round and the vibrant local food industry that makes them available to consumers. Rhode Island is known for its quahogs and the industry supports many families, both from an economic standpoint, and as a treasured pastime of digging for clams and creating memories together.

Restaurants and markets across Rhode Island will celebrate this sustainable resource and its year-round availability by featuring a quahog dish on their menus or highlighting a shellfish special. See all the participating restaurants and dishes at seafood.ri.gov.

“Quahog Week is an opportunity for Rhode Islanders to celebrate the vitality of our local shellfish industry and the many riches of Narragansett Bay,” says Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee. “Quahogging has a long history in the Ocean State and supports the livelihoods of hundreds of diggers year-round, along with local restaurants and food-based businesses. Visiting one of the participating venues [this] week to purchase quahogs to cook at home or enjoy a meal made with delicious, freshly harvested clams is a great way to support Rhode Island restaurants and seafood markets and a chance savor a favorite quahog dish or try something new.”

There are also two free Quahog Nights scheduled at the Guild in Warren and Narragansett Brewery. Guests will get to meet the hardworking shellfish harvesters from the RI Shellfishermen’s Association, who will shuck and serve complimentary littlenecks while interacting with attendees.

The first event is on Wednesday, April 26 from 5-7 p.m. at the Guild in Warren. Quahog harvesters from the RI Shellfisherman’s Association and Andrade’s Catch will shuck and serve complimentary little necks, and small bites will be provided by Blount Clam Shack and Market, serving clam pies, and Matunuck Oyster Bar, serving RI clear clam chowder. This event is free and open to the public; all ages are welcome.

On Thursday, April 27, Quahog Night is happening at Narragansett Brewery in Providence from 5-7 p.m. (twenty-one-plus only). This event will feature harvesters from the RI Shellfisherman’s Association shucking and serving complimentary little necks, and small bites will be provided by Dave’s Marketplace, serving stuffies, and Matunuck Oyster Bar, serving RI clear clam chowder. This event is free and open to the public. Ages twenty-on-plus only.

From April 23-29, restaurants and markets across Rhode Island will also celebrate the quahog by featuring special dishes or fresh clams on their menus. Some of the restaurants include George’s in Narragansett, which is featuring baked stuffed quahogs, bucatini with clams, and Portuguese clams with chourico, little necks, shallots and white wine; Boat House in Tiverton with Portuguese-style stuffed quahogs with chorizo; Matunuck Oyster Bar in South Kingstown is highlighting $1 littlenecks and cherrystones; Pizza Marvin in Providence will be baking Chowdah pie (a pizza with clams, potatoes and bacon on top), clam dip, baked clams with n’duja, breadcrumbs and Calabrian chili and raw littlenecks with piri piri hot sauce; and Newport’s Wharf Southern Kitchen will serve golden brown hush puppies stuffed with diced tasso ham, red and poblano peppers, garlic and local quahogs. Oberlin will also serve ricotta gnudi, with little neck clams, Hammerhead spinach and confit lemon.

Other participating restaurants offering quahog-based specials include Avvio Ristorante in Cranston; Diego’s East Side in Providence; Diego’s Barrio Cantina in Middletown; Duck Press in South Kingstown; Flo’s Clam Shack and Drive-In in Middletown; Gulf Stream Bar and Grille in Portsmouth; Hemenway’s Restaurant in Providence; The Mooring in Newport; Trafford Restaurant in Warren; Trio in Narragansett; Sherri’s Come Along Inn in Cranston; and Waterman Grille in Providence.

Participating markets include American Mussel Harvesters, Inc. in North Kingstown; Andrade’s Catch in Bristol; Blount Clam Shack and Market in Warren; Captain’s Catch Seafood in North Providence; Dave’s Fresh Marketplace with locations statewide; Fearless Fish Market in Providence; Fresh Harvest Kitchen in Westerly; Narragansett Bay Lobsters in Narragansett; Metro Lobster and Seafood (wholesaler) in Warwick; and Twin Shellfish in Warwick.

Local markets like all Dave’s Marketplace locations, Andrade’s Catch, Fearless Fish and more are all running specials, too. At Andrade’s Catch in Bristol, get fresh Narragansett Bay littlenecks, topnecks, cherrystones and chowders dug daily; pick up fresh larger quahogs great for stuffies and chowder at Fearless Fish in Providence; and stock up on shellfish, stuffies and clams Casino at Dave’s Marketplace.

Share your Quahog Week adventures on social media by tagging @RISeafoodRocks on Facebook and #QuahogWeek on Twitter to help build a following for Rhode Island’s favorite clam. To find out more about Quahog Week, go to seafoodri.com.

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