Island Creek Littleneck Clams with Confit Garlic, Chili & Olive Oil

Sale Price: $22.00

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Style: One Tin

Where it's from: Cape Charles, VA; New Bedford, MA

This tin brings a tear to our eyes - not just out of pride for all that our team has cooked up, but for how DELICIOUS it truly tastes. The clams are supremely tender and flavorful with a perfect balance of salt and heat from the chili de árbol. We recommend saving the confit garlic clove for last, eating it when you reach the end of the tin like the worm in a tequila bottle. Bottoms up!

What's Inside?

Ingredients: Littleneck clams, garlic, chili de árbol, salt, extra virgin olive oil

Why We Love It

This is not only the VERY FIRST TIN to roll out of our New Bedford cannery, but one that is entirely produced in the USA using 100% traceable product, and that is canned in the European craft style, all by hand. A rarity in the seafood industry as a whole, and certainly in the USA.

This humble tin of clams represents so much more than just being the first off the line from our little cannery. It represents years of farming shellfish, dreaming big, eating boatloads of conservas, and most tenderly, friendship. The clams preserved in this tin were farmed by our drinking buddies and aquaculture legends at Cherrystone Aqua-Farms in Virginia. Skip considers the crew at Cherrystone to be some of the realest and baddest MF's in the industry who not only harvest hundreds of millions of shellfish a year, but also operate their own hatchery - another rare and masochistic feat in this field. Their decades of friendship, support, and willingness to collaborate had been incredibly humbling and validating for our own, once small and scrappy, oyster farm. We are honored to present our dear friends' harvest in our very first tin.

How To Eat It

Spread the jammy confit garlic clove on a piece of toast before topping with clams. Maybe pair it with some vinegary pickled dilly beans or peppers. Or pour the whole tin over fresh pasta with a squeeze of lemon. Good luck pacing yourself with this one.

⚠ Prop 65 Warning

Consuming this product can expose you to chemicals including lead, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

TINNED FISH FAQ

How do I eat/serve tinned fish?

Ideally, you can just eat it straight out of the tin—so long as you're buying high quality products (but that's why you're here, isn't it?). For a simple preparation, you can put it toasted sourdough bread or crackers, with a little mustard and pickled vegetables for some balanced acidity.

There are many ways to enjoy this beautiful tradition, if you're looking for recipe inspiration check out this link for some ideas!

How long will it last once I buy it?

Tinned fish lasts a very long time. We generally say it's best to consume the product by the "Best used by" date printed on the tin for best results, however people have been aging tins for generations. These products are completely shelf-stable and should last at least 3-5 years un-opened!

Why is tinned seafood more "sustainable"?

While not unequivocal, there are definitely environmental benefits to tinned seafood. A few reasons include: Increased traceability, shelf-stable, zero food waste, recyclable materials, and lower-footprint supply chains.

Why is an oyster farm selling tinned fish?

Tinning fish is a time-honored way of preserving seafood at peak freshness that has sustained families for generations; not only on the dinner table, but by providing a stable income to small coastal communities around Europe. At one time, tinned fish was even served to inmates in local prisons and was the main protein source for lower income families along remote coastlines. This history is reminiscent of the popularity of oysters here in the United States during the 19th century, when the abundance of wild oysters gave economic stability and affordable protein to working class families for decades until oyster stocks were depleted.

As an oyster farm, we’re diehard evangelists of the benefits of responsible ocean farming. We see aquaculture as an integral part of our future global food system. With the ability to grow shellfish, we reduce the dependency on wild stocks, decrease the excess of nitrogen in our oceans, and create meaningful jobs in coastal communities. Everybody wins.

Overall rating: 4.8444443 / 5 from 90 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

Island Creek Littleneck Clams with Confit Garlic, Chili & Olive Oil are highly praised for their exceptional quality, tender and refined taste, and perfect balance of flavors. These clams, farmed by Cherrystone Aqua-Farms in Virginia, are the first product from Island Creek's New Bedford cannery, entirely produced in the USA using traceable ingredients. They are recommended to be enjoyed on toast or with pasta, offering a delightful culinary experience.

Summary topics

  • Product Quality: 11%
  • Clam Tenderness: 10%
  • Flavor Profile: 31%

Review topics: ["flavor","quality","texture","order","kick","sauce","clams","necks","tin","heat","garlic","olive oil","fish","meal","littlenecks","spice","bread","pasta","morsels"].

Review highlights

  • "These clams taste very fresh and the garlic and chili oil are perfectly balanced."Meredyth H.
  • "Sweet flavor with just enough garlic and very slight heat."Luc S.
  • "These clams are nice and mild with a small hint of heat."Christa L.

Reviews

Hands down the best tinned clam I have eaten

"One of the very best tins I have eaten. This chili is spicy and there was a whole clove of garlic in there! Delightfully chewy texture from the clams and the oil will emulsify for an extra silky finish. Can’t think of anything I would add to make this better, I went full raccoon mode and shot the leftover oil straight from the tin. 🤤"

Quincy (5/5)

Wow!

"I really thought I didn't like tinned clams for the longest time. Most varieties I've suffered through were mushy and flavorless and left me with no desire to keep trying. . . . until I saw folks raving about this one. I grabbed 2 initially. . . . . and then waited like a beast for the 4-pack to come back in stock. These are incredible!!! Fresh, firm but juicy, and so well seasoned. Easily one of my favorite cans of all time. Island Creek has blown me away every single time and I'm so grateful they're accessible here in the US. I'll be back again and again."

Jodie F. (5/5)

My favorite tin. So good.

"My favorite tin. So good."

Nathan W. (5/5)

best spicy clams ever

"***youtu***/pc38tBdoZjU check out our review"

chris p. (5/5)

Delicious

"My favorite tinned fish ever"

Alyssa (5/5)

Very unpleasant taste

"Hard to describe but seriously unpleasant taste."

Joshua L. (1/5)

It tastes great!

"It goes very well with pasta"

zuru l. (5/5)

Always sold out for a reason

"These were delicious!"

z (5/5)

Delicious clams with a kick!

"Absolutely sensational. Plump, toothsome clams swimming in a devilish spiced oil. Fantastic on crackers with a little cream cheese."

Theodore (5/5)

Can't stop thinking about these clams

"These clams are delicious. Meaty and fully of flavor. Can't stop thinking about them and wish I bought more!"

Lee P. (5/5)

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