Bringing The Outer Banks To Strasburg. . . .

The Outer Banks was our family's first beach vacation destination! Our friends, Jeff and Sharon talked about this place called, Nags Head, and how they loved it and how it was so relaxing. They would tell us how they would take their kids, towels, and cooler and head to the beach and just lay there, soaking up the sun all day long. That was a really different type of vacation than what we was used to. . . whenever Ralph and I went on vacation, it was usually a "have to see everything" vacation. You know, see every sight that the place was known for, all the typical tourist "must see's". We packed it in. We did it all. Then, we needed a vacation from our vacation!

So, when Jeff and Sharon invited our family to join them on their "beach vacation" to the Outer Banks, our first thought was, "are you kidding? why in the world would we want to go to the beach and just. . . lay around in the sun? isn't that boring?" Oh my dear friends, how WRONG we were!! That beach vacation to the Outer Banks was our first relaxing vacation! And, it's the reason I love the beach to this day!

Once we arrived at the condo that we was going to be staying in, we headed straight to the beach (after putting our swimwear on, of course!), and that's pretty much all we did, and we LOVED it!! The only other activity on our agenda was eating. This is where I fell in love with seafood.

We ate at many different restaurants, and each one was known for their own seafood specialty. Some were sandwiches (Black Pelican), others were known for their steamed shrimp (Awful Arthur's), some for their fish tacos (The Rundown Cafe). . . but the one restaurant that won my heart, was best known for their own version of clam chowder . . . was and still is. . . Sam & Omie's.

Now, if you ever go to Sam & Omie's, please don't be think it's going to be a stuffy and fancy seafood restaurant. No, it's a simple building that might even be mistaken for a "biker bar" as some people put it, but no, this place is for bikers, surfers, families, everyone and anyone!!! And believe me when I tell you that you may have to wait for over an hour for a seat in this little place, but it's SO WORTH THE WAIT!!!!!

Anyway, chowder. . . Sam & Omie's puts out some amazing chowder! In fact, I asked if they would share their recipe with us? The lady behind the cash register said yes, and opened the cash register and lifted the cash drawer and gave us a COPY of the recipe!!! Yep, this chowder was SO good that people were always asking for the recipe, so they decided to hand out copies of it!

Even after all these years (I think it was over 15 years ago since our first visit there?), every time I make Sam & Omie's clam chowder, I still remember my first visit to the Outer Banks, and our first vacation with our dear friends Jeff and Sharon! I love these memories! Fun, sun, laughing, watching the kids play in the surf, digging out sand from . . . !! LOL!! . . . but memories that make the clam chowder taste even better today than the first time I had it.

So, I encourage you to make some clam chowder, invite your friends over and make some memories of your own . . .

Until next time,

Cheers!! (PS.....Sharon & Jeff.....I'm sorry, you know we love you both. . . but. . . we ate ALL the chowder! I'll make another batch for you!!!LOL!!!)

Sam & Omie’s Clam Chowder

1 pound bacon, chopped

2 c onion, chopped

2 c celery, chopped

2 c carrots, peeled & chopped

Salt & pepper, to taste (I use sea salt & fresh cracked pepper)

2-3 TBSP. Italian Seasoning, to taste

1 TBSP. garlic, minced

3  - 46oz cans clam juice

2 bags frozen hashed browned potatoes, the cubed style (I used fresh potatoes –about 6 or 8)

2   -51oz cans chopped clams

In a large sauté pan, brown the bacon. Drain the grease. Set aside bacon.

In a very large pot or kettle, add all the rest of the ingredients, and the bacon.

Bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer and cook until the vegetables are tender.

Taste and season.

Yields: as Dolly Gray Jones (the cook at Sam & Omie’s) says, “a lot”