Every year, on the weekend before the 4th of July, our family throws a party. In addition to a great selection of food, the party usually involves a big water ballon fight, various beers on tap, and a fireworks show that wow's the crowd. Every year we hire out for food though; we often have chicken entrees, sushi, sandwich trays and potato salads or similar catered food. Once we splurged and had someone roast a pig, but we decided that was too expensive. All of our family agreed though that we had the best experience at last year's party when we had a clambake celebration.

I can suggest following the seafood route to anyone wishing to organise a summer party like the ones we do. Ok, I admit it's never really unexpensive to hire professional catering services for a party. But - if you already decided to cater anyway - the seafood root is not very more costly than a traditional macaroni, chicken and potato salad or any other similar common food that caterers usually provide.

Our parties for July, the 4th have usually about 200 people more or less. Maybe not 200 all at once, but throughout the day, I can estimate we have no less than that number. One thing it's important to tell is that I don't suggest a clambake celebration unless you have at least about 40 people, since it would be it would be somehow wasteful. Provide you have 40 or more people, I think it's a good idea.

The food for last year's clambake celebration was provided by a catering company. The main attraction was the live lobster. Kids and adults enjoyed watching the entertaining performance of the chefs as they prepared and cooked the lobster right in front of them. The catering company also did a great job displaying the rest of the full menu items on rocks and seafood. In addition to the lobster, we were served clams, quahogs and mussels.

We went with the "standard clambake", but optional, a "New England clambake" was also available. The price was similar, the difference was probably a more local tweak to the New England version. The one we ordered was delicious, but I wish I could compare the two. I might go with the other option the next time we eat clambake.

We are very delighted to do a clambake celebration once again for the 4th of July party this year. Everything is already planned, and we just can't wait for July to come! It's such a great food that we didn't consider anything else to eat. But of course there will also be lots of beer and water balloon fights.