Thanks to a recent Instagram post, I learned of a new product by Intershell. The Company invited me to try out this new product that’s ready to hit the shelves: Cape Cod Sea Clam Pie. It’s hard for me to say no to any type of seafood pie, and I’ve never tried one made from sea clams, so I headed to their processing facility to pick up a complimentary sample for review.

About Intershell International Corporation

Since 1992, Gloucester-based Intershell International Corporation has been supplying restaurants and wholesalers top quality local seafood, especially shellfish. Intershell started out by supplying domestic sushi distributors, but has since expanded into other seafood markets. Much of their product is sourced locally here in Gloucester or from our local waters and shipped worldwide. They even have their own boats that unload at their dock in Gloucester harbor, across the street from my parent’s house. Intershell mostly deals with wholesale/restaurant supply but these Sea Clam Pies are being offered for both wholesale and retail.

Cape Cod Sea Clam Pie: The Packaging

Intershell gave me the 6-inch, 1 pound/500g size, perfect for my dinner. However they are also offering a lager 9-inch pie as well. I noticed the box was pretty hefty for its size, that’s usually a good sign. It seemed much more dense than a similar sized chicken pot pie you’d find in the frozen food section of the supermarket.

While a sea clam pie sounds pretty damn good to me, some people I talked to said it didn’t sound too appetizing. I have a feeling it has to do with the long name and the use of “sea clam”. Consumers are funny like that, I wonder if they would feel the same way if I told them I was eating Cape Cod clam pie instead.

Cape Cod Sea Clam Pie: The Product

Intershell’s Sea Clam Pie is the brain child of Company founder, Monty Rome, who came up with the recipe. The filling is made from freshly shucked, locally sourced sea clams, also known as surf clams or hen clams. The shells of these large clams are often found along our local beaches. These clams make for great chowders, stuffed clams, and are the origin of clam strips. Sea clams are plentiful, grow big, mature quickly, and are sustainably harvested.

Health food this is not, with lots of butter contributing to high fat and cholesterol. If you are like me and try to adhere to a specific diet…plan accordingly before indulging in this decadent clam pie. Before even popping this in the oven I knew that a dinner this rich is better as a once-in-a-while treat.

The Recipe: Intershell’s Sea Clam Pie

Like any good quality frozen savory pie, the instructions were simple, but it’s going to take a little while. I put the frozen pie on a foil lined baking sheet to catch any spills. Cooking time is about 70 minutes at 350F. As it cooks the crust puffs up and smells of buttery pastry and stuffed clams. The house filled with that heady aroma, taking me back to when I worked in local seafood restaurants during the summer. It looked amazing coming out of the oven and there was small pool of butter in the baking sheet. Do your best to fight the urge to cut into the pie immediately and let it cool for at least 10 minutes.

The Verdict

All the goodness of a rich, hearty clam chowder, nestled in a flaky, buttery crust. After resting for 10 minutes, it was not soupy, but firm enough to cut into slices. What I like best is the big chunks of clam are the main attraction, the clam flavor is not buried in salt or spices. That to me means that Intershell can let the freshness of their clams stand on their own. It really has a homemade taste and quality that you would expect in an old-school New England seafood restaurant. There were no corners cut on this pie, butter covered every inch and I could not stop eating until it was gone.

Without a doubt, Intershell’s Cape Cod Sea Clam Pie is a winner. It’s so rich and tasty that splitting one could work for a dinner for two, or cut into quarters as a savory appetizer. If you are looking for a convenient and delicious take on a New England classic, keep an eye out for this pie. A big thank you to Rose, Monty and the Intershell team for letting me sample this excellent product!