Abbot Labs
"My group really enjoyed the experience immensely"

Cigna
"...we will be back for seconds of the Kempenaar experience"

Home Loan & Investment
"Everyone had a ball."

Insurance Designers
"The extra attention to details brought extraordinary praise."

RI Connection
"...a pleasure to work with people who are totally trusted."

Shearson Lehman Hutton
"It was a great party - children had a super time."

Schroff, Inc.
"...a great chowder. People are still raving about it."

Streetcars, Inc.
"The people at KCC were wonderful and helpful"

Teknor Apex, Inc.
"Once again our sales force had a great time"

Roche HLR Service
"The food was wonderful, and the food was handled to perfection."

Executone, Inc.
"Your operation is the greatest. Everything was perfect."

Preferred Networks, Inc.
"The clambake was wonderful. We had a marvelous time."

USS Boston Shipmates, Inc.
"The success of this event is a reflection of your experienced staff."

Anderson Consulting
"The food was plentiful and delicious, and your staff was excellent."

Bentley College
"It has been a pleasure working with you and your whole staff."

Sheffield School
"... the hospitality shown by your staff made the evening a success."

Harvard Business School
"You've made a hero of me here at H.B.S. It was very clear that your first priority is to provide an enjoyable day for your guests."

MIT Alumni Association
"... from all reports, they had a wonderful time."

PC Class of '69
"... facility, food, staff - we all had a great time."

Rhode Island College
"Your efforts helped make Senior Week a big success."

High Schools 50th
"The extra things you did made the day very special to us."

SWOS 126
"We had a great time ... and the food couldn't be beat."

 

 

A Real Nice Clambake

Fare of the Country in New England

By Julia Collins

"Where the locals go" is how Kempenaar's Clambake Club in Middletown, RI, bills itself. Kempenaar's has built bakes for more than 50 years. The late Esau Kempenaar was a Dutch immigrant who worked as a gardener for residents of mansions in nearby Newport. The idea for mastering the All-American clambake appealed to him, and he began putting on bakes for other gardeners.

"The local democrats found out" about Mr. Kempenaar's clambakes, "then the Republicans, fire chiefs, police chiefs, professional groups of plumbers, dentists - all wanting their own," said Don Booth (Big Don), who now runs Kempenaar's Clambake Club. "The club members were his gang of professional friends who worked like the devil to put on the bakes and had a terrific time." Mr. Kempenaar paid his pals with food and took everyone on an annual outing with the summer's profits.

Kempenaar's Clambake Club is on bucolic Aquidneck Island in Narragansett Bay. While not on the shore, the club's spacious lawns are pleasant, and Mr. Kempenaar's nurseries are out back. The atmosphere is casual and friendly, like a neighbor's backyard party. In mid-afternoon, a crowd of all ages mingles at the bar to snack on littlenecks on the half shell or compete for a giant lobster and other prizes in horseshoes, badminton, boccie and volleyball.

The prominent raised brick pit that Mr. Kempenaar designed steams heartily, bursting with seaweed, loaded with strategically placed racks of food and covered with canvas. At the bottom are slow-cooking items, such as potatoes and onions, with the quickest, the clams, on top. A sign on a nearby tree says "Jesse," in honor of the Kempenaar family's bakemaster and caretaker of more than 60 years. Don's nephew Jack is bakemaster now. He and his assistants hover by the pit; the trickiest part is assessing the critical moment of doneness.

After all the work and waiting, every clambake's pace suddenly accelerates. At 6:30 sharp, when the bake is decreed done, Mr. Booth announces that the dinner bell will be rung "by the youngest child and the most distinguished, silver-haired gentleman" - himself. Maria from Greece, tonight's youngest, clangs enthusiastically as guests flock to long communal tables under the pavilion decorated with flowers and flags. Because the food is ready all at once, clambakes take teamwork. Scurrying servers distribute chowder, then steamers with drawn butter and broth, then mussels. Shells pile up. The lobsters emerge from the seaweed perfectly done, accompanied by "fish in a bag," (just as it says, white fish steamed in a paper bag) Portuguese sausage, potatoes, onions and corn on the cob. Lobster bibs are donned by the practical and the unembarrassed. Table manners are superfluous at a clambake. In fact, they are ridiculous: clams resist fork and knife, and lobsters demand maximum messiness.

Most of the diners come from Aquidneck or nearby. Quite a few know one another. After the dessert - fruit and cookie bars - Don Booth mingles with the crowd. He knows many names, kisses babies, has friendly words for all. "See you next time," he says often. With his snowy beard and imposing stature, Mr. Booth looks far more the seafarer than what he really is, a professional with 40 years in the restaurant business. After retiring nearly a decade ago, he soon got bored and decided to lease Kempenaar's place from his family and run the club. "I have never had such a good time in my life," he says. "The hands-on work of a clambake is pure fun. And the people who come to the clambakes are always in a good mood, relaxed, and ready to enjoy themselves."

Charles Fradin, Inc.
"We all enjoyed
ourselves 102%"

General Electric
"The food was delicious... and the employees were so hospitable."

Hewlett-Packard
"Appreciate your explaining the lore behind a classic tradition."

Blinded Veterans Association
"...without your help, this vast would not be possible."

Military Operations Research
"...everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and the food was delicious."

USS Abner Read Reunion
"We toast you for a job well done."

USS Valdez
"The best New England Clambake I have had. The crew feels the same."

Colleen & Bob
"Our wedding reception was wonderful. Everyone raved about it."

Lisa & James
"Thank you so much for helping to make our wedding day such a happy one."

Betty Lou & Pete
"The grounds looked beautiful, the food was great and the hospitality was the best!"

Marie & Steven
"Everyone said it was the best wedding they ever attended."

Local 2879
"The food was excellent, the grounds beautiful, and we felt right at home."

C.O. Naval Dental Center
"Heartfelt thanks for making our birthday ball a most memorable event."

Waste Management, Inc.
"Once again a first class outing has been provided by KCC."

American Culinary Federation
"...we were very impressed with your facility and look forward to coming back."

The Dartmouth Group
"If you ever have anyone that's undecided, give them our name."

Dental Education Associates
"Again, thank you for the wonderful, authentic New England Clambake experience."

Sam Barker
"We've had nothing but raves from our guests."

Teknor Color, Inc.
"We look forward to seeing you again next year."

PDQ Printing
"The food seemed endless! A delicious fare and loads of fun. We'll surely be back!"