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Clambake

A Seafood Theme Party

The traditional clambake requires a secluded spot on a New England beach. We should all be so lucky! If you are near the beach (or if you want to drop a couple of tons of sand in your backyard) try the "On the Beach" clambake you'll see below. If you're not on a beach you can still have a Clambake on the Grill!

Break out the butter and let everyone know that your Clambake is not to be missed with a fantastic invitation. For a unique and easy invitation, send a personalized clambake invitation. Include a seafood bib to let guests know they are in store for a messy (and tasty) time.

Or make your own invitations! Use brightly colored cardstock and some fun wording:

Come fill your plate at the Henderson's Clambake! If you don't show, we'll be "steamed"

If you are having your clambake on the beach, toss a little clean sand into the envelope. How is that for authenticity?

Clambake Decorations and Party Supplies

Whether you are having the clambake on the beach or at home, a few decorative touches will take your clambake from ho-hum, to wow-whee! For a fantastic entrance, attach a personalized banner in between two inflatable palm trees to announce the party to the arriving guests. Line the path to your party area with tiki torches or citronella candle buckets.

String white twinkle lights and under the sea lanterns everywhere to create a festive, fun mood. Plastic fish can decorate walls, your deck, or hang them on string and suspend them from your party tent. Throw in a few plastic buoys, a plastic anchor, and a couple of plastic lobsters to complete your seascape!

Clambake Table Decorations

Cover the tables with under the sea tablecovers, and have plenty of ocean themed paper goods available. Make it easy on your guest by creating silverware bundles; just wrap plastic silverware in cute sea food themed napkins, and tie it with a puca shell necklace as a napkin ring. Set out lemon wedges and butter on a fish serving dish.

For a great centerpiece use sand pails filled with sand as balloon weights, and tie balloon bouquets made of one lobster Mylar balloons and dark blue, light blue and white balloons to the handle. Stick a few blue glow sticks in the sand for a great evening look.  Provide a few additional sand pails on the table for guests to throw their empty shells in.

Clambake Menu

On the Beach: The Traditional New England Clambake

If you want to have a traditional clambake you start by digging a hole in the sand at the beach. Line the bottom of you hole with stones, and then build a fire over the stones. Let the fire burn for a few hours. You stones are hot enough when water immediately turns to steam when it hits them. When the rock are hot enough, rake off the coals and cover the rocks with seaweed.

Place single servings of your clambake into cheesecloth packets (food in the middle, tie the ends together). You can customize your clambake by using whatever shellfish or seafood is available locally. Typically the packets will include clams, lobsters, potatoes, peeled onions, and corn.

Place the cheesecloth packets on top of the seaweed, and then cover them with more seaweed.  Let the packets steam for 2 hours. Serve packets with melted butter, lemon wedges, salt and pepper.

Clambake on the Grill

If you do not have a beach handy, you can still have a fantastic clambake on your grill. Wrap the food in cheesecloth like you would for a traditional clambake, and then place the cheesecloth packet in an aluminum packet that has a little seaweed in it (if you don’t have seaweed you can add about 1/4 cup of water). Place the packets on your hot grill and keep the lid closed. The food will be ready in about an hour.

Clambake Bar

Decorate your bar with fish netting, and stick a few plastic lobsters in the netting. Serve your drinks in glowing glasses, these are always a hit at my parties! Place a large galvanized bucket filled with ice, beer and water (which have personalized bottle labels of course!) on the ground near the bar for those who just want to grab a quick drink. Hire a bartender (or appropriate a friend) to mix a few specialty drinks; we recommend Sex on the Beach (tee-hee).

Sex on the Beach

• 2 parts Vodka
• 1 parts Peach Schnapps
• 2 parts Orange juice
• 2 parts Cranberry juice

Serve in a hurricane glasses, over ice. Garnish with an orange or lime slice.

Clambake Party Favors

Thank your guests for coming to your fabulous clambake by sending them home with a fantastic party favor. Fill a mini beach tote with sunglasses, a paper fan, and a personalized clambake candy bar. Attach a personalized hang tag that says "We're so glad you clam came to our clambake - The Hendersons".

Photographs are always a great way to remember special events, so set up the beach muscle man and beach bikini babe photo ops, and provide an instant camera so your guests can snap a few fun shots to take home.

Your clambake will be so much fun; your guests will anxiously await your next event!  With ideas and products from Party411.com you know that all your celebrations will be memorable ones.