You Can’t Get Bacon From A Quahog
First Annual Cape Cod Quahog Day
Quahogs and oysters and clams, oh my! Are we in the land of Oz or just a fish market on Cape Cod? Puzzled by some of the unfamiliar names given to local shell fish, we are frequently asked “What in the world is a quahog?” So in an effort to enlighten our guests, we offer up this simple explanation. Pronounced locally “co-hog”, this hard shelled bivalve is a type of mollusk native to the waters of New England, although they can be found anywhere along the east coast, from Prince Edward Island to the Yucatan Peninsula. Also known as a round or chowder clam, local fish markets identify quahogs with special names for its different sizes. The smallest are called littlenecks, followed by the cherrystones, and the largest are known as quahogs or chowder clams.
This year, the First Annual Cape Cod Quahog Day will be celebrated on Sunday, June 21, 2009 at the Quahog Republic Waterfront Eatery on Mashnee Island in Bourne. The day will kick off with the “Quahog Prognostication”-an announcement from the Secretary General of the Quahog Republic as he receives word from the “official quahog” on how many weeks of Cape Cod beach weather lie ahead.
Other highlights of the festivities, which will be held on the Quahog Republic lawn overlooking the water, include a clambake preparation ritual, shucking demonstrations, live entertainment, and various contests, where attendees will have a chance to compete to be the 2009 Ms. Quahog, Boss Hog and Mister/Miss Littleneck.
The general event is free and open to the public, with food and drink available for sale at the restaurant. The clambake, served at 6 PM under a tent on the lawn, is a ticketed event limited to 75 people. As is tradition, the clambake includes 1 ¼ boiled lobster, steamers, linguica, potatoes and corn. For more details visit http://wwwquahogday.com.