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    Nantucket Clambake Dinner Party

    August 13, 2021 by Anna 2 Comments

    A clambake is the perfect summer dinner party; it's casual, easy and delicious. Our Nantucket Clambake uses recipes inspired by some of the restaurants on that beautiful New England island. AND it's Gr8 Fun!!!

    Our Nantucket Clambake Dinner Party might be one of my favorite Gr8 Dinner themes yet. (Although it's hard to say...most of our Gr8 Dinners are such fun!)

    One of my best friends lives on the island of Nantucket off the coast of Massachusetts. It's such a beautiful spot.

    The island is not large, but there are lots of beaches to explore and probably more amazing restaurants per capita than most large cities! (That's not a fact, just an observation.)

    Our Nantucket Clambake Dinner Party was a Gr8 success! This is the ultimate summer entertaining meal. Casual and fun for everyone, try it!

    So it seemed to be the perfect choice for a dinner party theme! I love when a theme dictates the entrée, Nantucket Clambake...the main course was decided!

    Vince and I thought it would be fun if we asked the other couples to each bring a dish inspired by a local Nantucket restaurant. So the menu was set!

    Menu

    • Cocktails first! If you like serving a signature drink, our Nantucket Sea Breeze is the perfect choice for this party.
    • West Creek Cafe's Spring Pea and Sorrel Soup - Sorrel is difficult to find so Debbie created a Spring Pea and Arugula Soup inspired by this dish.
    • Company of the Cauldron's Mixed Field Greens with Arugula Oil and Lemon Vinaigrette, Kyle provided this dish.
    • Clambake on the Grill ∞ includes Lobster, Clams, Shrimp, Mussels, Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, Sausage
    • Strawberry-Rhubarb Tarte Tatins inspired by Oran Mor - Jurga created this Buttery Crusted Strawberry-Rhubarb Tart in her cast iron skillet to honor the idea of the dessert.

    This post contains affiliate links which means Great Eight Friends may earn a small commission if you click on the link. There is no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Our Nantucket Clambake Dinner Party was a Gr8 success! This is the ultimate summer entertaining meal. Casual and fun for everyone, try it!

    The Invitations

    After choosing the theme and creating the menu, we turned our attention to the invitations. Since this is a beachy outdoor theme, we decided t-shirts would be a Gr8 idea.

    This post contains affiliate links which means Great Eight Friends may earn a small commission if you click on the link. There is no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

    I found a cute drawing and added the name of the dinner party and the date, then just printed that onto iron-on transfer paper and ironed it on to inexpensive t-shirts.

    My local dollar store just happened to have small red speckled enamelware pots that became the "base" of the invite. (Remember, we only have to make three!)

    Those were filled with the t-shirts (2 per couple), a shell, a small wooden seagull and the printed recipes for the side dishes and dessert.

    We didn't need an actual printed invitation because the important info was on the t-shirt!

    Our Nantucket Clambake Dinner Party was a Gr8 success! This is the ultimate summer entertaining meal. Casual and fun for everyone, try it!

    If you are re-creating this (or any) dinner party, you may not be able to find the exact components of the invitation.

    But you can make the t-shirts and use another kind of inexpensive pot or bowl to put them in with whatever little items you can find that reflect the theme.

    Take advantage of the dollar stores, Home Goods and similar types of stores. And don't forget the clearance aisles!

    Our Nantucket Clambake Dinner Party was a Gr8 success! This is the ultimate summer entertaining meal. Casual and fun for everyone, try it!

    Table Setting

    And while you're shopping for the invites, keep an eye open for your table setting ideas.

    Since this is a clambake and the food gets dumped in the center of the table, no centerpiece was necessary. But there are some other necessities.

    We needed lobster bibs, crab crackers, napkins, and pails or bowls for the empty shells. We used red plastic plates that we already owned and made the place cards using shells I've collected over the years.

    I also covered the table with thick brown butcher paper, or you can use newspaper.

    Our Nantucket Clambake Dinner Party was a Gr8 success! This is the ultimate summer entertaining meal. Casual and fun for everyone, try it!

    The outdoor table was set for the clambake, but I also set our dining room table so we could move inside for dessert.

    A friend of mine collects lighthouses and was happy to loan some of them to me for the centerpiece for that table. I had fun setting 2 totally different tables!

    Our Nantucket Clambake Dinner Party was a Gr8 success! This is the ultimate summer entertaining meal. Casual and fun for everyone, try it!

    The clambake is done on the grill and is really a Gr8 meal for entertaining. It's casual, delicious, easy, and fun because mostly you eat with your hands! You do have to pre-boil the lobster...I left that job to Vince!

    Our Gr8 food is always delicious and everyone is full and happy!

    Our Nantucket Clambake Dinner Party was a Gr8 success! This is the ultimate summer entertaining meal. Casual and fun for everyone, try it!

    For more information about Nantucket, check out these two sites and book a Gr8 trip! Nantucket Chamber of Commerce or the Town & County of Nantucket

    Nantucket Seabreeze Cocktail
    An effervescent version of the classic Seabreeze, this is a light and refreshing cocktail.
    As with most cocktails, feel free to make a larger batch. In fact, for this one, make a pitcher, then after pouring into each glass, just top with the club soda.
    Gr8 Recipe Here!
    Two crystal glasses with Nantucket Breeze cocktail garnished with lime wedges. a mixing glass in the background.
    Spring Pea and Arugula Soup
    This was originally a Spring Pea and Sorrel Soup, but Sorrel is difficult to find. The arugula makes a delicious soup. If you find sorrel in your market, try it!
    Gr8 Recipe Here!
    Spring Pea and Arugula Soup
    Mixed Field Greens with Arugula Oil and Lemon Vinaigrette
    Two infused olive oils make this Mixed Field Greens with Arugula Oil and Lemon Vinaigrette salad a delight to your taste buds. Start a couple of days before serving so that the oils have time to absorb the flavors.
    Gr8 Recipe Here!
    Mixed greens with lemon vinaigrette and arugula oil
    Clambake on the Grill
    This Clambake on the Grill feeds a crowd and is an easy, casual summertime meal. And the mound of food in the middle of the table is impressive!
    Change the quantities of the components per your taste. We do more clams and fewer mussels.
    Gr8 Recipe Here!
    Clambake on the Grill
    Buttery Crusted Strawberry Rhubarb Tart
    This Buttery Crusted Strawberry Rhubarb Tart is fresh and simple to make. Grab a skillet and some fruit and you will have a delicious dessert!
    Gr8 Recipe Here!
    Strawberry Rhubarb Tart
    sm 6/15/18

    « American Flag Fruit Pizza
    Nantucket Seabreeze Cocktail Recipe »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anna

      July 26, 2020 at 9:25 am

      Hi Kathy! So nice to hear from you! You can also do the clambake without the lobsters. And you are welcome, thank you for being a Gr8 Friend.

    2. Kathy Ellis

      July 25, 2020 at 11:12 am

      What a great party to model after. I'm in Italy and just found a source for Maine lobsters and we have plenty of clams and mussels. With your inspiration a Clambake is on my party list. grazie.

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