Quahogs are indigenous to Rhode Island and the key to two of the state’s signature dishes.
It may be the smallest state in the U.S., but with 400 miles of coastline, Rhode Island has a well-deserved reputation for excellent seafood, from squid to oysters. Nothing says “Ocean State” quite like quahogs, though. The delicious hard-shelled clams are inseparable from iconic local dishes like clear Rhode Island clam chowder and the stuffed clams called stuffies.
What are quahogs?
Courtesy of Dune Brothers Seafood
Say the word “quahog” and many people immediately think of Family Guy , but the fictional setting of the animated TV series was named for Mercenaria mercenaria , commonly called a quahog in Rhode Island, where creator Seth McFarlane attended college. Quahogs are native to a long stretch of the Eastern seaboard, from Canada to Central America, and they’re particularly concentrated around New England and especially important to the economy and identity of Rhode Island, where they’re the official state shellfish.