Lawrence Woodman
Lawrence "Chubby" Woodman was an entrepreneur and restaurant owner who legend has it invented the Ipswich fried clam. He opened Woodman's of Essex, first as a clam shack, with his wife Bessie on Main Street in Essex, Massachusetts and sold freshly dug steamer clams as well as ice cream and homemade potato chips.
Legend has it that Woodman invented fried clams on July 3, 1916. According to the company website this happened during a visit from a friend and fisherman, Mr. Tarr of neighboring Gloucester. Chubby took his suggestion to put some clams into the oil used for deep-frying the potato chips. Some modifications were made, such as dipping the clams in evaporated milk and corn flour, and the fried clam was born.
Chubby Woodman's clam related innovations continued with the idea of mobilizing New England clam bake. He used a truck loaded with food, boilers, and wood, and the clambake was done at the customer's preferred location. Woodman's restaurant now sells "clambakes to go," consisting of all the necessary ingredients such as lobster, clams, potatoes, and corn.
Woody's legacy and his restaurant's focus on clams was adversely impacted in 2005 by a severe red tide tightening the clam supplies and causing price increases. Woodman's was forced to import clams from Canada.
Read more about Lawrence Woodman: Family and Legacy, Reputation
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