“Iron Chef, Michael Symon dives into this seafood battle head first. In Essex Massachusetts (http://visitessexma.com/) it’s all about fried clams but Woodman’s and JT Farnhams make them better than anyone else. Michael Symon jumps in their kitchens, talks to foodies and even goes clamming to figure out who has best fried clams in Essex.”
I grabbed this blurb about tonight’s episode from Internet Movie Database online because it pretty much sums up the action that took place here in our gorgeous town in July—but I have a few behind the scenes photos to share with you, courtesy of the wonderful crew at Essex River Cruises (http://www.essexcruises.com/) who took Chef Symon to the clam flats to see where these delicious fried morsels of seafood goodness came from.
Iron Chef Michael, Dillon from Essex River Cruises and the TV crew prepare for the clam digging–looks like they are waiting for the tide to go out a little more to me.
Receiving instruction on how to dig for clams–and it is a good thing because that clam fork is pointed and sharp!
Iron Chef Symon finds a razor clam.
Something you don’t see to often and might never again–makeup touch ups on the clam flats.
Chef Symon, Producer Mark Summers and the crew.
As much as I wanted to be there, I was taping my TV own show that day. However, I asked a friend who works at Woodman’s to get me an autograph, and she did–thank you Roisin–and thank you Chef for taking the time to sign it:
I love what is says!
The fried clam was invented in Essex so this was the perfect place for such a food feud for sure! Here is a link to they history of the friend clam
http://www.woodmans.com/history/history.cfm
and in the interest of fairness, here’s a link to JT Farnham’s listing on the Visit Essex dining page:
http://visitessexma.com/essex_ma_pg/restaurants.html
Be sure to tune in at 10:oo pm Eastern Time tonight to Food Network and find out who wins this epic battle of the fried clam.
I know………….but I am not telling!
Good Morning Gloucester 
Cool! He’s my favorite Iron Chef.
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I moved out to Cleveland twenty odd years ago. I met Michael just after he opened up his West side joint. We’d bring him herbs and veggies from our community garden – he’d incorporate the daily freshness into the nights menu. Smart. Inventive. Infectious. That’s Michael.
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Thank you for replying guys! He is fantastic!
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thank you so much for the feedback/comments guys! I love it when that happens–and the show was terrific!
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Thanks for the “heads up” and thank God for Tivo! Sandy
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