The Classic Seafood Dish That's Connected To An Iconic Narragansett Landmark

The big foodie story today has to do with calamari and it being spotlighted as the “state appetizer” at last night’s roll call during the virtual DNC 2020. Google and you’ll find extensive coverage (and some drama surrounding it apparently too) via everything from WAPO, The Daily Beast, and Forbes to Vulture.com and on so many more media sites.

I am here, however, to talk about another classic seafood dish and its connection to Little Rhody.

And it all starts at 35 Ocean Road in Narragansett.

Also known as The Towers.

The iconic structure we now associate with beach days or nights in Gansett, and strolling the wall, was originally part of a resort called the Narragansett Pier Casino back in the 1890's, also known as the Gilded Age.

Or as I like to call it, the Roaring 90's.

It was where all the fancy schmancy people of that era (as in East Coast socialities, their spouses, their offspring, and some of their staff) spent weeks, if not the entire season, on the water in Narragansett.

Tragically, in 1900 a big fire destroyed most of the resort, except for The Towers and its granite walls. (I was shocked to read that that fire is numero uno on a laundry list of other catastrophes that The Towers has weathered over these many years. I’d had no idea.)

Anyway, whilst doing some online research about 35 Ocean a few years ago, I came across something on Wikipedia saying how the dish Clams casino (stuffed clams…I’ll take mine without bacon, thank you v. much) had originated at the old Narragansett Casino and that’s why it was named as such.

Well, how do you like that?

I say that is as good an anecdote as any to start telling your FB or Instagram friends about next time you upload a photo or three from your fave local seafood spot this summer.

I mean, it's not like you're saying your uncle was the man who created The Cobb Salad or something, right? (Remember the Curb Your Enthusiasm I co-opted that from? We’ve been rewatching a lot of old episodes this summer.)

It’s just showing some Rhody pride.

Photo Credits: Photos above in this post used with permission from Getty Images