THE italian american FOOD HISTORY OF LINGUINE AND CLAMS

When I moved to New York City, I was excited about eating NYC’s great Italian food. One of the dishes I liked the most was Italian American linguine and clams. Vongole - or clams in Italian, were the bivalve I never thought I would love so much. I remember going to Don Peppes in Ozone Park and looking at about two pounds of pasta covered in a garlicky clam sauce. The clams provided a really unique, umami-rich, salty flavor while the pasta soaked up all of the delicious clam sauce. This was truly primo Italian American cuisine! I started to research other great NYC Italian American dishes and discovered that many had been Americanized in their years in the United States. However, linguine and clams seemed to be the only one that stayed true to it’s Italian roots. I decided to research further, and this is what I found.

Originating from the coastal regions of Italy, linguine and clams, also known as Spaghetti Alle Vongole, because Vongole means clams in Italian, also know as clam linguine pasta, held a special place in the hearts and stomachs of Italians in "campagna" (countryside). These coastal Italians would pluck clams from the sea, cook them with pasta and seasonings, and enjoy a fresh, seaside dish.

As Italian immigrants settled in New York in the 1800s, they brought with them cherished culinary traditions. While dishes such as Eggplant Parmesan because Chicken Parmesan and italian bakeries started making cheesecake, linguine and clams held on to it’s Italian food traditions and was made like it was in the old country. This clam linguine pasta stayed close to its roots because clams are plentiful off the coast of New York and the rest of the ingredients could easily be imported or sourced in New York. While staying close to it’s Italian roots, the linguine and clams is a cornerstone of American Italian cuisine.

you learned vongole means clams in italian, but want to learn more?

Are you curious about the other delectable delights that New York City has to offer? Perhaps something aside from this American pasta dish? OR learning to words aside from clams in Italian? Explore our learning hub to uncover what foods New York is famous for and embark on a gastronomic adventure through the city's diverse neighborhoods.

And here is a tasty linguine and clams recipe for your adventurous cooks!

Have any questions? Ask away on the form below.