LINGUINE WITH CLAM SAUCE

LINGUINE WITH CLAM SAUCE

DINNER AT HOME 

Celebrated a very special family member birthday with Linguine and Clam Sauce.  Simple, fresh ingredients cooked up in only a few minutes.  Entire meal for three was under $40.  The fresh clams in shell were half of the cost.  Could have skipped these and just used the chopped clams to save money.  While my presentation was less than perfect, the flavor of this dish was excellent.  Adding the small can of tomato sauce really makes a difference and adds flavor.  The red color of the tomato sauce disappears when the sauce is done.  I soaked the clams in water for about one hour.  You will be amazed how much dirt comes out of the clams.  The water was black when finally rinsed out.  This is a dinner that you can make with just about anything you have in the refrigerator.  Easy and delicious.

LINGUINE WITH CLAM SAUCE

CLAMS IN SHELL, CHOPPED CLAMS, WHITE WINE, GARLIC,
 SHALLOTS, PARSLEY, FRESH OREGANO, LEMON,
TOMATO SAUCE AND CRUSHED RED PEPPER FLAKES

SAUTE SHALLOTS AND GARLIC IN OLIVE OIL AND BUTTER

DEGLAZE PAN WITH WHITE WINE AND REDUCE

ADD CHOPPED CLAMS AND JUICE - SIMMER

ADD CAN OF TOMATO SAUCE - NOT KIDDING THIS IS GOOD

ADD FRESH OREGANO, PARSLEY AND CLAMS

COVER UNTIL CLAMS OPEN

CLAMS OPEN AND THE SAUCE IS DONE

BURNT THE BREAD A BIT BUT THE DISH WAS GOOD

THE SEA CHEST OYSTER BAR AND SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

FRESH CLAMS WERE DELICIOUS

THE SEA CHEST
OYSTER BAR AND SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
MOONSTONE BEACH, CA 


When my Dad and his lovely bride Heidi suggested we eat at their favorite Cambria Seafood restaurant just hours after a Chemo Therapy we were surprised.  Sounds great if Dad is up for it we said.  Turns out this place does not accept reservations.  When we arrived just after 5:30 pm. there was a huge line waiting to get in.  I have never seen anything like this.  Dozens of people in warm jackets lined up in the parking lot.  All calm and in good spirits.  The lined moved quickly after the doors opened and we were seated at a nice table in the back of the restaurant.  Perfect place away from the busy and loud Oyster Bar area.  I loved the homey feel of this place.  Like being in someones home.  The service was great with the waiters and waitress always doing their best to make sure we were happy.  Yes were were.  Very happy.  When you consider the wave of diners that enter the place when it opens, I was surprised that the food came out so quickly.  This is a top notch operation with many years of experience.  The meal started with some hot sour dough rolls with butter.  I ordered a bowl of Clam Chowder.  It was thick and creamy but lacked a whole lot of clams.  Good flavor.  The Clams and Oysters were shucked fresh and were delicious.  My Cioppino was FANTASTIC!  There was enough in the bowl to serve three people.  I barely put a dent in this tomato based soup filled with Calamari, small Scallops, Shrimp, Crab and several types of fish.  The broth was amazing.  I could have sit there for hours sipping the broth.  Best I have ever had.  The others at the table enjoyed fresh fish selections.  This is the kind of place that I wish we had in Hawaii.  I would go back here again and again and try just about everything on the menu.

FRESH LOCAL OYSTERS WERE GREAT!

THICK AND CREAMY CLAM CHOWDER

STEVES CIOPPINO - BEST EVER!

THIS FISH WAS A BIT TASTELESS ACCORDING TO DINER

SALMON WAS TERRIFIC ACCORDING TO THIS DINER

FRESH FISH WAS A BIG HIT

LINGUINE WITH CLAM SAUCE

LINGUINE AND CLAMS

DINNER AT HOME

Made Mommy  a nice dinner in advance of Mothers Day.  Picked up some fresh little neck clams and put together a pretty good Linguine and Clams.  Garlic, onions, red pepper flakes, white wine, tomato sauce, butter, oregano and fresh parsley.  Appetizer was vine ripened tomato, mozzarella and basil with a 10 year old balsamic vinegar.  Added a slice of Proscuitto and some garlic bread.

LINGUINE AND CLAM SAUCE

VINE RIPENED TOMATO, BUFALA MOZZARELLA AND PROSCIUTTO