Etsy's Handmade Blog
Party Planners: Seaside Clambake with Food & Wine Magazine
Story by foodandwine
Published on June 25, 2009 in Spotlight 		Photo by

© Buff Strickland, from Food & Wine's clambake recipe

As the style editor for Food & Wine, Jessica Romm gets to combine her twin passions for excellent food and amazing design. Every month she tracks the best in tabletop, choosing stunning plates, glasses and other serving pieces to showcase in the magazine. To start off a new series of Food & Wine summer party picks, she shares a few of her favorite nautical Etsy Finds for the perfect clambake.

You can cook up your own summer clambake with this recipe, entirely the creation of husband and wife chefs Gabriel Frasca and Amanda Lydon of the Nantucket restaurant The Straight Wharf.


Photo by © Buff Strickland.

Even if you're not by the beach, you can create that classic New England feel in your backyard with some of the items below, picked out by Jessica. Let's go!

The perfect summer picnic on the beach combines great food and fantastic style, like these Etsy Finds.

I love the crisp nautical stripes on this durable Striped Tote by bayanhippo! Plus it's strong enough for stashing bottles of chilled wine to bring to the beach.

These dreamy, sea-inspired Coral Block Print Napkins by juliepeach have a lovely faded-in-the sun look.

These sturdy Blue Stack Bowls and Soup Mugs by DodgeStationPottery are ideal for chowder. Table linens are a must for a fun and messy clambake!

These Recycled Sail Tags by reiter8 would be great wrapped around napkins. They are a fabulous party favor, since guests can use them again and again.

Gabriel Frasca (right) and a friend dig a pit for a clambake.
Photo by © Buff Strickland.



One of my favorite Brooklyn ceramic artists, Alyssa Ettinger, has done it again with this inspiring "Glow" Mason Jar Lantern Set.

I love these old-school Fabric and Wood Sailboats by willowbaus; they add color to the table and can double as toys for kids to play with on the beach.

This burlap Beach Bunting Banner from thevintagebanner makes we want to throw a party, with or without clams.

These Cape Cod bracelets by Nicholas Landon could double as beautiful, summery napkin rings — at such a good price.

This simple Mid-century Modern Punch Bowl is from Top Design contestant (and New Englander) Eddie Ross. It would be great for holding lemonade, sangria or even gazpacho.

From a fabulous vendor, goodvintage, with lots of cool, quirky, mid-century finds, this lobster-red Enamelware Ladle would be perfect for serving chowder or any fish stew.

These Enamelware Lobster Pots from cabinwindows, a favorite of prop stylists, say "New England clambake" to me. Set the matching baking dish in the center of the table for discarded lobster shells.

Photo by © Buff Strickland.

For more fun summer entertaining ideas, go to foodandwine.com/entertaining. Check back here for more party planning posts — the editors at Food and Wine will be sharing more ideas, recipes, and their Etsy picks this summer.

Tags beach, clambake, dining, eating, entertaining, food, Food and Wine Magazine, hosting, magazines, New England, outdoor, parties, party, party guide, Plants and Edibles, shopping
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61 comments     Login to add your own!

June 25, 2009 at 1:19 p.m. emptynestegg

That takes me home.

June 25, 2009 at 1:24 p.m. bayanhippo

woooohooooo!!! What a great combine! Thanks so much for including my bag! :o)

June 25, 2009 at 1:26 p.m. emptynestegg

Where was that photo taken?

June 25, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. kclarkphotography

Wish I lived near the beach. nicholaslandon's pearls are always so beautiful.

June 25, 2009 at 1:35 p.m. thehappyhoneybee

Ohh, wish I'd been there!

June 25, 2009 at 1:37 p.m. aimeesarmoire

Ah, yes, a beach trip would be nice right about now. Really, need to add to the seashell/beachglass collection, so it's really important that I go ASAP!! :-)

June 25, 2009 at 1:39 p.m. baconsquarefarm

Since I can't live near a beach, enjoy looking at photo's from others who have fun with family on the beach. Great finds too~!

June 25, 2009 at 1:41 p.m. SimpleTraditions

I love spending the day with the fam on the beach. It's so nice and relaxing. Thanks for all the great picks!

June 25, 2009 at 1:47 p.m. steinschmuckdesign

Uhhh...
I love the sea!

June 25, 2009 at 1:47 p.m. SeaPinks

Oh man I miss living at the beach, this was so nice :)

June 25, 2009 at 1:49 p.m. ericawalker

my kind of gathering!

June 25, 2009 at 1:49 p.m. VintageEye

reminds me of my time living in new hampshire.
we would eat at the beach any chance we got.
clambakes were great but take out eaten while
sitting on the sand was just as good!

June 25, 2009 at 1:50 p.m. PAINTINGSBYSAM

So Great.

June 25, 2009 at 1:55 p.m. edor

A seaside clambake is probably the funnest, yummiest, summery-est thing to do. Oh I'm going to daydream about it now.....

June 25, 2009 at 2:02 p.m. joules

Love this idea! Great gear for the day.
Not that I've ever been to one. I think it's something that would best be done with servants. Looks like a lot of work! ;)

June 25, 2009 at 2:03 p.m. elizabethwrenvintage

oooohhh! one of my favourite articles in a long time : ) thanks for sharing.

June 25, 2009 at 2:08 p.m. 4TheSparrowsNest

OH...Fresh seafood....*drool.* I've never been to a clambake, or hosted my own. Sounds like it's about time!!

June 25, 2009 at 2:11 p.m. beachhouseblues

Great picks, great location and The Straight Wharf is a GREAT restaurant!!

June 25, 2009 at 2:18 p.m. heatherjolie

I so want to do a clam bake!!! Yum!

June 25, 2009 at 2:27 p.m. nicholaslandon

wow...i'm ready to go! thanks so much for the recipe...sounds yummy! thanks too for including our cape cod pearl and leather bracelet in your nautical theme...we appreciate it! xo, mickey

June 25, 2009 at 2:37 p.m. TipsyTimeMachine

I've never been to a clambake, looks like a lot of fun.

June 25, 2009 at 2:39 p.m. travellingcircus

Fabulous article...love any kind of excursion that involves sun, surf and tasty food with friends:)

June 25, 2009 at 2:58 p.m. Mattamorphis

I love a good clambake. Dont you? A great time to crack open some lobster and dive right in.

OOOOH LA LA!

June 25, 2009 at 2:59 p.m. beautifulbridget

love those luggage tags!!

June 25, 2009 at 3 p.m. missindie

Wow! I wish I still lived seaside. I'd give anything to go to a clambake!

June 25, 2009 at 3 p.m. EJPcreations

How fun!

June 25, 2009 at 3:03 p.m. sandali

There's NOTHING more fun than making a 'potjie' on the beach -- drinking some wine & laughing with friend around the fire while the seafood is bubbling in the marinade -- AWESOME featured item !!!!! LOVE it ;)

June 25, 2009 at 3:04 p.m. SeaFindDesigns

Nothing bettah than a clam bake on the beach!!!!!

June 25, 2009 at 3:09 p.m. MelroseFields

The mason jar lantern is a great item..I am ready to head to the beach:)

June 25, 2009 at 3:13 p.m. KOALACaddie

Wow, great idea! I'm going to take Joey quahauging - the tide's way low and our toes are itching! LOVE the Mason Jar Lantern. As always, thanks.

June 25, 2009 at 3:20 p.m. alyssaettinger

thanks so much for including my lanterns!

June 25, 2009 at 3:48 p.m. Blakenetizen

A Clambake sounds like FUN!

June 25, 2009 at 3:56 p.m. HelloVictory

oh how i wish i lived off the coast of maine. a sea of heaven!

June 25, 2009 at 4 p.m. klacustomcreations

I wish I lived near the coast too!

June 25, 2009 at 4:11 p.m. gumbygirl

I could go for a lobster right now!!

June 25, 2009 at 4:24 p.m. RiverBird

ooo this reminds me I need a New England getaway!

June 25, 2009 at 4:37 p.m. reiter8

I have fond memories of clambakes on the Cape Cod during our summer vacations. I agree, if you're not near a beach, throw one in your back yard! A perfect idea for the 4th of July.

Thanks for including my recycled sail tags - I love the idea of them wrapped around napkins and given as party favors!

June 25, 2009 at 5:14 p.m. willowbaus

I love it! It's hard to believe it's summer, but this really gets me in the mood. Thanks for including one of my boats!

June 25, 2009 at 5:46 p.m. odiliafu

Love the clean and crisp photos. This reminds me of the wonderful vacation I had at Clear Water beach in Florida.
My nautical necklace:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?...
Sea treasure earrings:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?...

June 25, 2009 at 6:08 p.m. cabinwindows

Thanks for including my enamelware pot-yes, it would be PERFECT for a lobster boil.
Love the collection-makes me want to plan a party like this.

June 25, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. JoDyer

*sigh* I miss summer (I'm in the southern hemisphere)

June 25, 2009 at 6:50 p.m. juliepeach

yum yum yum & yum! not to mention how exciting it is to see those coral napkins up there... :)

June 25, 2009 at 7:28 p.m. breadandroses2

Just the thought of the beach is refreshing. Not the ocean, but we have Lake Erie and it's great!

June 25, 2009 at 7:50 p.m. DodgeStationPottery

Thanks for featuring my pottery along with all of the other beautiful products!

June 25, 2009 at 10:36 p.m. SweetwaterGifts

I really miss the ocean...the lifestyle is so simple and relaxed!

June 26, 2009 at 12:13 a.m. capitalcitycrafts

I remember clambakes from when I was very small- always fun!

June 26, 2009 at 8:12 a.m. lovelygifts

Love New England

June 26, 2009 at 9:19 a.m. poppyswickedgarden

Oh I love this and I LOve Clambakes! We used to have Clambakes at the beach when I was a little girl! Thank you for the memories;)

June 26, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. BabbidgePatch

Summer is here! clambakes, searching for sea glass and sandcastles...all great fun ~ thanks for sharing the nautical finds!

June 26, 2009 at 11:39 a.m. eddieross

What a fantastic post. Love that enamelware! Thank you for featuring my punch bowl set. I'm definitely linking on our blog shortly...http://www.eddieross.com

Eddie

June 26, 2009 at 12:20 p.m. tldgrainwear

Oh...I love beign on holiday...I love the beach!

June 26, 2009 at 12:34 p.m. babook

How wonderful those perfect pick are so charm : )

June 26, 2009 at 3:27 p.m. OliveSomeday

Oooo I want to go to there!

June 26, 2009 at 9:48 p.m. Silverpencils

A clambake sounds so fun!

June 27, 2009 at 8:55 a.m. kidacollective

Oh, I love those sand dune photos. My pebble beach is nice, but just not the same!

June 27, 2009 at 7:56 p.m. livingstonandporter

Love all your picks! Even if you don't live in a place where a clambake is possible, it makes you want to make believe....AlwAYs a fan of elyssa ettinger but stumbled upon a few new faves here! THANKS.

June 28, 2009 at 9:53 p.m. SassysWackdOutGifts

I do live at the beach and unfortunatly don't get there enough,at times we are allowed to have a fire pit and the music at night and the cooler tote bag would be a fantastic Idea for the cook out

June 30, 2009 at 9:53 a.m. PawPawsWorkshop

Some great ideas.

July 2, 2009 at 11:40 p.m. TwistedCrystals

love from MAINE :)

July 9, 2009 at 9:48 p.m. auntsuesoldnewlovely

Cool vintage!!

Aug. 7, 2009 at 12:56 a.m. ikabags

Really great and beautiful !

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