Washington Clams

A Pacific Coast clam, Washington clams are also known as butter clams for their smooth texture and are commonly steamed or grilled. There are two types:

• Northern Washington clams (S. gigantea) can be found from Alaska to San Francisco and are up to 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter.
• Southern Washington clams (S. nuttalli) are larger (up to 7 inches/17 cm) and have purple markings inside their shells. Despite their name, these clams are not found in Washington at all: They are harvested from Humboldt Bay in Northern California to Baja California in Mexico.