BostonZest

Clam Box in Ipswich - A Trip to Fried Clams Perfection

Last Sunday our friends, David and Peter, took us out of Boston for some fresh air, foliage, and perfectly fried clams.

Research pointed us to the Clam Box in Ipswich. We seldom eat fried food. When we decide to splurge in that direction we want the best.

Thanks to all the folks on Chowhound.com's "Boston Board" who did the leg work for those of us who don't get out of the city that often. We followed the trail of a fried clam taste-off they conducted this summer.

Four of us ate our fill from the three "plates" shown in the first photo. Peter had the great idea of ordering a fisherman's platter with shrimp, scallops, clams, and haddock, onion rings, a white bread roll and fries. That gave us a taste of more items. We also shared a scallop platter and a fried clam platter.

Now that we had our own taste off, we would order boxes of our favorites and skip the fries and rolls at future visits. Those favorite items were the scallops, clams, and onion rings. All were perfectly cooked, non-greasy, and full of fresh flavor.

This time of year the legendary lines (discussed in the links below) are not as long and seats inside or at the picnic tables outside are easier to score. (TIP from a local: Phone ahead, place your order and go straight to the pick up window.)

Here are close-ups of the scallops and clams. 

You'll find an album of photos from this North Shore trip over at our photography site on Smugmug.

http://bostonzest.smugmug.com/gallery/6387039_8ESKK#403945108_QLqFV

This weekend looks like another beautiful opportunity for anyone who like to visit the North Shore foliage and try some excellent fried seafood.

By the way, bring cash- the Clam Box does not accept credit cards. (UPDATE: They now accept MC & VISA!)

 

Details:

Clam Box

246 High Street, Ipswich, MA

http://www.ipswichma.com/clambox/

Other Opinions:

Here's what the Chowhounds say:

Here's a link to the "Klam Krawl Trip Report" that sent us to the Clam Box

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/543497

Here's more Clam Box discussion from the New England & Boston Boards:

http://chowhound.chow.com/search?search[query]=clam+box+ipswich&Search.x=0&Search.y=0&search[class_names]=Topic&search[boardgroup_id]=6&search[from]=1+year+ago&search[sort_mode]=descending&search[board_id]=12

The Road Food crew love the Clam Box:

http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Writeup.aspx?ReviewID=453&RefID=453

Here's the yelp

http://www.yelp.com/biz/clam-box-ipswich

James Hook & Company- Preserve on Film

BostonZest readers have shown their interest in James Hook & Company by their response to the articles we've run since the fire. When we learned about a very special collection of photographs of James Hook taken before the fire, we were sure you would want to know about it.

We're honored to have been given permission to republish the following article from one of the area's most-valuable resources, Historic New England.

Photo: Ed Hook in his office, surrounded by company memorabilia (© 2008 Justin Goodstein-Aue all rights reserved)

Preserved on Film
by Lorna Condon
Curator of Library and Archives, Historic New England

Justin Goodstein-Aue has spent much of the past year documenting the daily life of the James Hook Lobster Company, a family business founded in 1925 and located on Boston’s waterfront in the heart of the financial district. Goodstein-Aue uses a large-format view camera that captures incredible detail. Visiting the business two or three times a week, he observed a special dynamic between the large family of proprietors and their employees.His images are filled with atmosphere, showing people at work, details like a crowded desktop or a row of keys on hooks, steam rising from the holding tanks, and vivid portraits of the men. After the terrible fire last May that destroyed much of the Hook Company, these photographs are poignant reminders of a beloved city landmark.
Aware of the Historic New England’s important collection of nineteenth-and twentieth-century documentary photographs, Goodstein-Aue recently visited the Library and Archives and showed us some of his images. I and my colleagues immediately recognized the quality of his work and its value as a record of a business that has been an important part of the city’s character. Goodstein-Aue has generously donated a portfolio of twenty photographs to the Library and Archives and will continue to document the company as it rebuilds.

© 2008 Historic New England/SPNEA, reprinted from © 2008 Historic New England/SPNEA, reprinted from Fall 2008 Historic New England magazine.  Photography copyright  Justin Goodstein-Aue.  No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission from Historic New England.

Details:

We highly recommend membership in Historic New England.  Their properties, collections, programs, publications, and services make their membership fee a great value. You can see the collection by appointment.

Historic New England
141 Cambridge Street, Boston MA 02114-2702
Library and Archives - By appointment, Wednesday through Friday

9:30a.m.-4:45p.m. Call (617) 227-3957, ext. 225 or 226
Fee is $5; students $3; Historic New England/SPNEA members free

www.historicnewengland.org

Justin Goodstein-Aue

www.jameshookdocumentary.com

James Hook & Company - is ready to take your holiday orders for lobsters and seafood from their temporary retail facilities at the old location.

15 Northern Avenue, Boston MA
www.jameshooklobster.com

Ivy Covered Walls Blaze Crimson in Autumn

Boston's ivy covered walls are usually pictured as lush and green. But, in Autumn the climbing vines can turn into a blaze of crimson.

They also produce bunches of berries in a deep blue that hide among the leaves.

It's not just the trees that produce opportunities for leaf peeping in the urban area.

Be sure to enjoy the plants growing up the sides of Boston's real estate.

La Voile Adds Prix Fixe - Early Week, Early Evening

La Voile, the lovely French bistro on Newbury Street, has added a Prix Fixe menu on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:00 pm.

Here is a sample menu in a photo taken from their sidewalk menu display.

More Boston area restaurants are adding prix fixe options to lure customers who are snapping locks on their purses. 

If you have a favorite place -- or are affiliated with a restaurant with a value menu, let us know. We love great food at good prices.

Details:

La Voile
261 Newbury Street (between Fairfield & Gloucester Streets)
Boston, MA
617-587-4200

www.lavoileboston.net

Related posts:

http://www.bostonzest.com/2008/06/celebrating-the.html

http://www.bostonzest.com/2008/04/la-voile-to-ope.html http://www.bostonzest.com/2008/08/best-of-boston.html

Want a quick reference for French food terms? We recommend this handy guide.

Places to Buy or Rent Great Halloween Costumes in Boston

Forget about shopping chain stores, Boston has some great, independently-owned places to find Halloween costumes for your grownup party.

The Garment District in Cambridge is probably the best known spot to outfit yourself for any costume party.

It's open seven days a week, and they've extended their hours for this season opening until midnight every day through Halloween.

They sell and rent costumes, and they have lots of vintage & secondhand clothing if you want to create your own.

The also sell items to finish the look like:

• wash out hair color in tones of atomic turquoise and cotton candy pink
• prosthetics like scars, bullet holes, horns, pointed ear tips and witch noses with the materials to attach them
• masks from simple gold or black eye masks to elaborate Venetian designs or feathery carnival styles
• heads to transform you into a bear, lion or gorilla
• an endless selection of wigs include mullets, afros, clown colors, pigtails, geishas, ragdolls, cornrows, dreadlocks, flappers and glam styles
• accessories including hats, boas, go-go boots, and wings

Their "Boston Costume" division rents the full rigs for the likes of Batman, the Green Hornet, Marie Antoinette. Or you can be a minuteman, a cowgirl, a knight, or a belly dancer.

Dorothy's Boutique
This weekend people were lined up, waiting to enter Dorothy's Boutique on Mass Ave. near Symphony Hall. They call themselves "Boston's Halloween Headquarters and display masks, scary arm stumps, strange shoes and accessories in the window. The website makes it clear that these are costumes for adults. Risque is their specialty.

Army Barracks
Across the street from Dorothy's  is the Army Barracks store. With a little imagination, you can use their surplus gear to create a costume for that upcoming party. They were decked out in orange and black balloons to stress their holiday worthiness.

Broadway Costumes
I phoned Broadway Costumes to ask their status, and they will not be renting costumes this season. The person answering the phone said they would not be open until after Thanksgiving 2008.

Use Your Imagination
And then, there is the good use of your own imagination. A few year's ago, we stopped into Tapeo on Newbury on Halloween. The staff was competing for the best costume, and the customers voted on who should win the prize. We surely hope it was our waiter.

He was dressed as a dinner table. A white cloth covered round table rested on his shoulders.  An artful display of vegetables surrounded his head on a silver platter. As he approached each table, he squatted down so that his tablecloth hid the rest of him and you were ordering from the head on the platter on the small table next to you.

What's your all time favorite costume?

Details:

The Garment District Inc.
200 Broadway, Cambridge, MA
www.garmentdistrict.com

Dorothy's Boutique
190 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston MA

www.dorothysboutique.biz

Army Barracks
173 Massachusetts Avenue, Bosotn MA
www.armybarracks.com

For those who look at this later when they reopen:
www.broadwaycostume.com

Missy, The Princess of Kenmore Square

Meet Missy. She and her roommate Bud, make their daily rounds in Kenmore Square where she reigns as Princess of all she surveys.

Missy grants audiences to her many subjects and even accepts offerings from some of them.

She loves longer walks when the weather is right. Occasionally, you'll find Bud and Missy strolling along the Charles River or socializing with other dog families on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall.

Missy also enjoys a break on a bench and will often give one of her big smiles to and accept a pat on the head from a perfect stranger. 

BostonDOG: Getting Together for Common Interests

(Editor's note: Today's entry comes from Alain Ferry, founder of BostonDog and Boston Petpal. He has sent us a great summary of upcoming events that are important to Boston dog families. If you can only do one thing, make sure your voice is heard at the city council hearing. If you can't make the hearing, email your city councilor and all the at-large councilors. Links to their contact information is below in details.)

Getting Together for Common Interests
by Alain Ferry

There's a lot of activity over the next few days (especially Tuesday) for dog owners.

Saturday, October 25th, 3:00pm
BostonDOG Poop Patrol
Meet us at Four Preppy Paws on Charles Street for a quick stroll through the neighborhood to scoop "orphan poop," followed by pizza and drinks back at the store.  Your dogs are welcome to attend!

Monday, October 27th, 7:00pm
BostonDOG DRS Planning Committee
If you're interested in having a dog park in Boston Common, this meeting is for you.  We'll review our latest DRS plans and prepare a statement to be read at the 10/28 public meeting (see below.)  Meeting at Four Preppy Paws on Charles Street.

Tuesday, October 28th, 6:00pm
Public meeting to address dogs in parks
City Councilor Bill Linehan "wants to try and change the culture of dog owners" and has called for a special meeting to discuss the growing problem of dogs running free in city parks.  Due to several other important events on Tuesday evening, many of us plan to arrive early and leave by 7:00pm.  Meeting in the Ianella Chamber at City Hall.

Tuesday, October 28th, 6:30pm-10:00pm
'Tails for Tails - Fundraiser for Ronan Park DRS
Join us at the Ashmont Grill (555 Talbot Ave., Dorchester) to celebrate with the Friends of Ronan Park as they embark on the creation of Boston's 2nd official dog recreation space.  There will be good food & drink, games, prizes and a silent auction... with all proceeds going towards the DRS.  Tickets can be purchased at www.friendsofronanpark.org

Tuesday, October 28th, 7:00pm
Four Preppy Paws Annual Halloween Party
It's that time of year... Hill House is playing host to a spooky, scary Halloween party.  There will be a doggie costume contest, portraits, behaviorist and games.  This is a great event to attend before heading over to the Ashmont Grill for the Tails for Tails fundraiser.

Details:

City council contact information:

http://www.cityofboston.gov/CITYCOUNCIL/

BostonDOG
www.bostondog.org