Dig it Baby, It’s a Clambake

Be There or Be Square

Preparing. The first bit of business you’ll need to address are local ordinances about beach parties. Before you even send out invitations, check with your local authorities about permits and regulations for throwing parties on the beach, even if it is your own private property. There are likely restrictions about building fires, having glass containers, alcohol, vehicles on the beach, trash disposal, etc…You may need to purchase a permit, or at a minimum, be educated about the rules for safety.

Get Creative with your Invitations. Some ideas include writing your beach party details on a deflated beach ball. Or send a piece of balsa wood (it resembles driftwood but is much lighter and easier to mail) on which you’ve written your party details. Or send more traditional invitations using paper and ink but shaped as beach balls or surfboards.

Building the Clam Pit or Bonfire. A traditional clambake is an all-day affair as it takes a while to get the pit hot enough to cook the food. To make it truly authentic, dig a pit about three feet deep, line it with rocks and tend a wood fire inside until the rocks are about 400 degrees F. Line the rocks with wet seaweed then layer with potatoes, sausage, corn still in the husk, clams and more seaweed. Cover the pit with a tarp and let it all simmer for about three hours. Of course, you can cook all of this over hot coals on a grill or over a traditional beach bonfire. If a clam bake isn’t exactly what you had in mind, you can always choose a beach bar-b-que. The Grilled Pork Tenderloins with Fresh Fruit Kebabs would make an easy and festive dinner and you can treat your guests to a delicious Sassy Strawberry Pie for dessert.

When you’re building a bonfire, pick a safe spot at least 50 feet from the dunes or other structures that could catch fire if embers drifted towards them. And build it far enough in from the water that you don’t get doused before you even get started. Check tide tables and try to determine how far up the tide will come the night you’re planning to party. Then dig a pit about one to two feet deep and wide for your fire. The bigger the fire, the bigger the hole. Set your logs up teepee style and use very dry pieces of driftwood for kindling. As with the clam pit, when you’re done, douse your fire with water (a lot!) and cover with sand. Be sure not to leave any burning coals under the sand in case someone walks over them.

Entertaining your Guests. While you’re waiting for food to cook or dusk to gather so you can build your bonfire, entertain your guests with some of these classic or creative beach activities:

• Send guests on a nature scavenger hunt. You never know what’s going to wash ashore, so put everything from the simple (shells) to challenging (shark’s tooth) on your list. Or mix it up a little if you’re on a public beach and give guests digital cameras to capture “bathing beauties” and “beached whales”….without getting caught, of course!
• If local ordinances permit, set up a volleyball net. If you can’t do that, try a limbo contest. How low can you go!
• Bring out the kid and the competitor in your guests with some pails and shovels and organize a sandcastle building contest.

Feeding the Crowd. After an afternoon of play, pull back the tarp on the clams or announce that it’s time to chow down. Here’s where good planning comes into play since you won’t be close to home. Prepare as much food ahead of time as possible and be sure to transport and store it at the right temperature. Bring all of the plastic cooking, eating and serving utensils you’ll need along with plenty of plastic plates, cups, napkins and bags for cleaning up. When making your list, don’t just think about serving and eating food, but plan for how you’re going to cook the food as well…for instance, do you need a shovel to dig a pit? How about something to start the bonfire? Bring as much extra ice as you can and keep ice for drinks separate from ice for storing food. Also, try to bring extra beach supplies for guests who may not be prepared such as sunscreen, blankets, towels, etc., although it’s also a good idea to remind guests to prepare for a day (and evening, if it tends to get chilly in your area at night) at the beach on the invitation.

Gather Round the Bonfire and Relax Since hauling lots of furniture to the beach is somewhat impractical, you can ask each invitee to bring their own blanket or chair. Coolers convert into great benches. You’ll need several to keep food and beverages cool anyway. If your beach is one that allows vehicles, ask those guests that drove trucks or SUVs with tailgates to circle around the bonfire and let guests sit on the tailgates. This is a great time to turn up the music and set the mood. Use a car stereo or your MP3 player to play classic beach tunes from the Drifters or Jimmy Buffet. Now is the time to relax and share fond memories of summers past.