Continuing with my favorite state specialties, we are heading to Massachusetts. The local favorites in the Bay State include fried clams and roast beef sandwiches on the North Shore, bar pizza on the South Shore, and Boston cream pie in the city. All the other seafood options, including lobster rolls and clam chowder, are featured in a separate New England-wide article. Let’s dig into what Massachusetts has to offer.
Roast Beef Sandwich
The classic North Shore roast beef sandwich is a true thing of beauty. For those not familiar with these sandwiches, it’s thinly sliced rare roast beef served “three-way”- with James River BBQ sauce, mayo, and cheese. They typically come in three sizes: junior, regular, and super beef- served on a Piantedosi Bakery roll. The roast beef sandwich as we know it started at Kelly’s in Revere. From lower New Hampshire to just north of Boston, each town has its favorite roast beef sandwich: from Newburyport to Lynn, Stoneham to Gloucester.
Try it: at any of the no-frills roast beef joints from the New Hampshire border to just north of Boston
Fried Clams
Even more so than roast beef, the North Shore of Boston is associated with one food item: the fried clam. These Ipswich clams are plucked straight from the mud flats, dipped in a golden brown batter, and plump and delicious. Get out of here with clam strips, this is whole-belly country! Woodman’s in Essex, Massachusetts, claims to be the originator of the fried clam. Although still the most popular in the region, if not one of the most popular in the whole country, other contenders to the fried clam crown include J.T. Farnham’s and the Clam Box in Ipswich. Fried clams are summertime eating essentials, and there is no place quite like this region to try them.
Try it: Woodman’s or Farnham’s in Essex
Bar Pizza
South Shore bar pizza is truly different and utterly delicious. It is typically served in a personal pan size, and the cheese used is cheddar, not mozzarella. The crispiness of the pizza gives it a crunch, but the pizza is never burned. Although associated with the South Shore, much of the best pizza actually comes from the area just south of the city, with establishments such as the Lynwood Cafe in Randolph and Town Spa Pizza in Stoughton. Closer to the sea, the Black Raspberry Pub in Plymouth and Poopsie’s in Pembroke are all regional favorites. South Shore pizza joints range from family friendly establishments to dive bars, neighborhood pubs to literally someone’s garage.
Try it: Town Spa Pizza in Stoughton or Lynwood Cafe in Randolph
Boston Cream Pie
With the word “Boston” in the name, this is one dessert with undeniable ties to the city. Heck, it is even the state dessert of Massachusetts! For a well-known after-dinner treat, it has a bit of controversy around it. For one, the Boston cream pie is certainly more cake than pie. It originated in the mid-1850s, with some publications stating 1855 and others a year later, at the Parker House Hotel. French pastry chef Augustine Francois Anezin came up with the original recipe. Other publications peg Chef Sanzian as the originator, with other sources crediting Chef Raelyn in the 1880s. Chef Anezin gets the nod from the Parker House, though as the originator.
What you can’t argue about is the pie/cake’s ingredients. Typically, it is a sponge cake with chocolate icing on the top and filled with a cream or custard. Seeking a Boston cream pie in the city that bears its name should be quite easy. Popular versions hail from Italian bakeries such as Mike’s and Modern Pastry. Flour Bakery + Cafe also makes a great version, as do classic restaurants such as Union Oyster House. The most sought after though is the original. Parker’s Restaurant is inside the Omni Parker Hotel and is still the best!
Try it: the original at the Parker House or Flour Bakery + Cafe in Boston
For more New England local favorites, head up to Maine.
