Flavour of the Month: six takes on kitschy clams casino
Flavour of the Month: six takes on kitschy clams casino
Clams casino, the kitschy Italian-American favourite of bivalves baked on the half shell, is being revamped on modern menus.
See all six takes on clams casino »
Read More
- 272294
- The single clam casino on the Canadian seafood platter at <strong>Frank’s Kitchen</strong> is a cheeky addition to an otherwise typical seafood plate. Bacon, red pepper, bread crumbs, parsley and Tabasco give the tender cherrystones a serious flavour boost. Sea asparagus and oyster leaf add freshness. $32. <a href="http://www.torontolife.com/guides/restaurants/continental/franks-kitchen/"><em>588 College St., 416-516-5861.</em></a>
- (Image: Vicky Lam)
- Retro Style
- Retro Style
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-clams-casino-toronto-01-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-clams-casino-toronto-01.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-clams-casino-toronto-01.jpg
- 1000
- 1000
- https://torontolife.com/food/best-clams-casino-toronto/slide/best-clams-casino-toronto-01/
- best-clams-casino-toronto-01
- 0
- 0
- 272295
- Chef Chris Sanderson of <strong>Big Crow</strong> sautées cherrystone clams, then threads the meat onto a skewer with double-smoked bacon. A turn on the maple wood–fired grill and a dip in honey butter hot sauce yields a succulent, smoky bite. $16. <a href="http://www.torontolife.com/guides/restaurants/american/big-crow/"><em>176 Dupont St., 647-748-3287.</em></a>
- (Image: Vicky Lam)
- Open Fire
- Open Fire
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-clams-casino-toronto-02-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-clams-casino-toronto-02.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-clams-casino-toronto-02.jpg
- 667
- 1000
- https://torontolife.com/food/best-clams-casino-toronto/slide/best-clams-casino-toronto-02/
- best-clams-casino-toronto-02
- 0
- 0
- 272296
- The prettily deconstructed Clamorama at <strong>Luma</strong> is a sautéed jumble of diced razor clam meat, garlic, crispy bacon, jalapeños and faintly bitter turnip greens. Fragrant blood orange vinaigrette provides a balancing flourish. $16. <a href="http://www.torontolife.com/guides/restaurants/continental/luma/"><em>350 King St. W., 647-288-4715.</em></a>
- (Image: Vicky Lam)
- Razor's Edge
- Razor's Edge
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-clams-casino-toronto-03-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-clams-casino-toronto-03.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-clams-casino-toronto-03.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/best-clams-casino-toronto/slide/best-clams-casino-toronto-03/
- best-clams-casino-toronto-03
- 0
- 0
- 272297
- Razor clams get the Neapolitan treatment for <strong>Weslodge’</strong>s casino special, which brings clam meat baked with basil, mint, buffalo mozzarella and spicy tomato sauce. A drizzle of chorizo oil adds spicy bite; lemon zest cuts through the richness. $14. <a href="http://www.torontolife.com/guides/restaurants/bar_and_pub/weslodge/"><em>480 King St. W., 416-274-8766.</em></a>
- (Image: Vicky Lam)
- Italian Job
- Italian Job
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-clams-casino-toronto-04-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-clams-casino-toronto-04.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-clams-casino-toronto-04.jpg
- 1000
- 1000
- https://torontolife.com/food/best-clams-casino-toronto/slide/best-clams-casino-toronto-04/
- best-clams-casino-toronto-04
- 0
- 0
- 272298
- <strong>Bent</strong> chef Susur Lee deep-fries a mixture of clam meat, corn niblets, okra, bacon and dill to make an airy fritter. A crisp shard of honey-glazed prosciutto adds salty crunch, and chili hollandaise provides rich, sweet heat. $14. <a href="http://www.torontolife.com/guides/restaurants/international/bent/"><em>777 Dundas St. W., <br /> 647-352-0092.</em></a>
- (Image: Vicky Lam)
- Southern Fried
- Southern Fried
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-clams-casino-toronto-05-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-clams-casino-toronto-05.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-clams-casino-toronto-05.jpg
- 1000
- 1000
- https://torontolife.com/food/best-clams-casino-toronto/slide/best-clams-casino-toronto-05/
- best-clams-casino-toronto-05
- 0
- 0
- 272299
- For her spicy Malaysian-Chinese clams, chef Tricia Soo of <strong>Soos</strong> wok-fries manillas with pork belly, kaffir lime leaves and dark soy sauce, while cherrystones are goosed with curry leaves, turmeric, ginger and pork belly, and topped with crumbled prawn crackers. $12. <a href="http://www.torontolife.com/guides/restaurants/malaysian/soos/"><em>94 Ossington Ave., 416-901-7667.</em></a>
- (Image: Vicky Lam)
- Spice Route
- Spice Route
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-clams-casino-toronto-06-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-clams-casino-toronto-06.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-clams-casino-toronto-06.jpg
- 667
- 1000
- https://torontolife.com/food/best-clams-casino-toronto/slide/best-clams-casino-toronto-06/
- best-clams-casino-toronto-06
- 0
- 0
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/food/best-clams-casino-toronto/&title=Flavour of the Month: six takes on kitschy clams casino&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/best-clams-casino-toronto-01-624x624.jpg&description=By Kelly Reid | Photography by Vicky Lam | Styling by Linsey Bell
Clams casino, the kitschy Italian-American favourite of bivalves baked on the half shell, is being revamped on modern menus.
See all six takes on clams casino »
[gallery columns="6" ids="272294,272295,272296,272297,272298,272299"]){kind=link}
I don’t want them re-invented or re-vamped… I want them like they were in the 60s and 70s – A broiled clam with some chopped green pepper/onion and crispy bacon. That’s it. No breading (that’s a ‘stuffed clam’ -different thing altogether). Clams Casino, A great bourbon Manhattan, and a Med. Rare Prime NY Strip… that’s a great meal.