Foot in Mouth
Posted by Jenny LaPointe on May 18, 2006
Q: I live in Sharbot lake, Ontario, Our creek is full of clams. Would these be edible, or have you heard where there is good tasting freshwater clams?Thanks,
Jenny
State: Ontario
Habitat: swamp
A: Excellent question and one that I had a few years ago myself! It goes without saying that you want to be sure your clams are in water that is "clean" though.
If you're comfortable that the waters are acceptable then there is no reason that you can't give the clams a try. Keep in mind that there are different species of clams in different areas of North America so a clam in the center of Nova Scotia may be quite different from one in your area. That said, a clam in one area may taste good while a different kind of clam in another area may not. I tried some clams from an Adirondack mountain lake in New York state and found them to be barely palatable. Would I be willing to try a different species elsewhere? Sure! So, give your clams a try, and who knows, maybe you'll discover a new culinary delight. Thanks for your question.
John Wiessinger ( May 19, 2006)