SHEDIAC: Fantastic fried clams

UPDATE July 2009: Gould’s Fried clams is now closed, replaced by a Chinese-Canadian buffet.

I had promised Jason I’d show him what a real lobster roll looked like — to compare to the flavourless $18 foot-long lobster sub he once had from Subway — before the end of our trip. As we were running out of time and places, we made a pit stop in Shediac, New Brunswick, home of the world’s biggest lobster (statue).

The lady at the fresh lobster stand pointed us to Gould’s Fried Clams in town, “Across the street from the Tim Horton’s. You can’t miss it.”

We almost did miss it, but I drive like a nut. Gould’s looks like a fast-food outlet from the 1950s which makes sense since it’s been open since 1944.

Here, Jason got a small lobster roll, chunks of fresh lobster with mayonnaise and lettuce on a hot dog bun. That’s it. Nothing fancy. And it was $2.99. Take that, Subway.

He also got a small poutine ($3.69) to boot. Real cheese curds and rich dark brown gravy. Mmm. Good for the taste buds, not so good for the arteries. But isn’t that what vacations are all about? Well, our vacations anyway.

I figured I better try Gould’s signature dish and got a small fried clams ($7.49) which comes with fries and homemade tartarsauce. Let’s just say I’ve been craving fried clams ever since.

The clams are huge and plump, lightly battered and crisp, and entirely addictive. If I knew how much I’d take to them, I would’ve ordered the full plate of clams only ($9.99) and forgone the fries.

I phoned after our visit to see what kind of clams Gould’s uses and the man answered: “Good-sized, fresh ones.”

Gould’s Fried Clams, 549 Main St. E, Shediac, New Brunswick, (506) 532-3105.