Most beaches have strict rules prohibiting partying on the beach after dark. Luckily, I have a few connections, and with a permit in hand from the town of East Hampton, I invited eight friends to join me for a soiree in the sand. Invitation time was 6:30 PM and it took us about an hour to set up, charge our glasses, and relax in time for a spectacular sunset. It wasn’t a lot of work, and our efforts paid off big time. The hardest part was definitely carrying everything from the car to the spot I picked just over the dunes. Packing up afterwards was easy everyone lent a hand. Voluntarily I might add.

To set the scene we placed an 8’ banquet table on top of milk cartons and covered the table in beige linens. Two garden umbrellas were positioned beside the tables and covered with mosquito netting over the top. Besides keeping the bugs away, there is something very romantic about mosquito netting billowing in the slight breeze. Earlier in the day, I packed the milk cartons with the glasses and plates we used to set the tables. It was really just the umbrellas and tables that were “extra”, so to speak. I didn’t want to sit on blankets and balance a plate of food on my lap.

A zinc tub packed with beverages and topped with ice was used for our bar. A wicker basket was filled with glassware along with an ice bucket and bottle of Champagne for those wanting some bubbly, and at the local hardware store I found kerosene lanterns and tiki torches which were placed around the dining area and along the walkway from the parking lot to the party site. As the sun slowly set and its golden glow disappeared, we lit a bonfire not far from the table. Between the fires on the beach, all the candles down the center of the table, and the torch lights studding the beach, the glow of burning firelight made everyone look like they’d been sun-kissed and as if they just returned from a long vacation from somewhere fabulous! It was the start of summer we joked. What a way to begin.

I love to cook and definitely love the idea of a clambake. But the idea of doing it myself didn’t make sense when Claws on Wheels is in the neighborhood. They by far do the best clambake in the Hamptons. Hands down. A simple phone call was all it took. They arrived around seven to set up, delivered all the firewood they’d need for their use, and brought some extra for our bonfire as well.

There’s definitely an art to a clambake, and how the food is layered in the pot makes all the difference in the world. In a large handsome pot, layer the seafood with clams and mussels at the bottom, whole, live lobsters (1 per person) placed on top of the mussels and clams, then whole new potatoes, and finally at the top, your ears of corn. Cover the top entirely with ice and place the lid on top of the pot. The ice actually steams the food as it melts and keeps the ingredients fresh until cooking time. The mussels should be placed in a vexar bag. Allow 1 pound of mussels per person (it depends on the size of the mussels to see how many mussels are in a pound). Place ice on top of the mussels to prevent them from opening before you cook them. The same rules apply to clams; they should also be placed in a vexar bag and you’ll need approximately1 pound per person. The potatoes should also be placed in a vexar bag. (A vexar bag is a bag made of netting; it isn’t essential but will certainly make it easier to remove the foods from the pot.) Cooking time depends on the size of the lobsters; give it 15 minutes for a 1 ¼ pound lobster 17 minutes for a 1 ½ pound lobster, and 22 minutes for a 2 pound lobster. Don’t start the timing until the pot begins to steam.

It’s the small touches that everyone remembers, and when I pulled out some chilled hand towels that had been splashed with lavender essence, I got a big applause. Between the corn and the lobster, not to mention the other shellfish, our hands were covered in juices by the end of the meal. A quick wipe and not only were we ready for the next course of key lime pie and smores, but the chill of the cold towels was a welcome touch on a balmy summer’s evening.

By the time we left, I can honestly say we had an absolute ball. It was a beautiful night. The stars were out. The laughter non-stop. And the food truly delicious. If I had to do it all over again, there isn’t really anything I would do differently.