Phone or Write In for Packaged Clambake : Southland Firms Specialize in Feast--Right Down to the Seaweed

Put a clambake together by buying the ingredients yourself, or opt for a prepared package.

Give the following Southland companies two to three days notice to assure availability of seaweed:

Fish King Seafood, 722 N. Glendale Ave., Glendale, (213) 245-3553, sells seaweed for $1.50 per pound and also offers packaged clambakes.

At Seafood Emporium, 19762 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, (818) 347-4350, there’s no charge when seaweed is purchased along with other clambake ingredients. They also sell the steamer bags for clams. Complete clambake packages are available for self-preparation; the store will also cater.

Another option is to mail-order packages from one of the following companies:

Clambakes To Go!, P.O. Box 1677, Orleans, Mass. 02653, (800) 423-4038, offers packages serving one to 10 people that include lobster, codfish fillet, mussels, soft-shelled steamer clams, corn on the cob, new potatoes, sweet sausage and onions. Everything comes layered in seaweed and is packed in its own pot. Prices (including overnight shipping) range from $60 to $380.

Boston & Maine Fish Co., 200 Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston, Mass. 02109, (800) 626-7866, offers clambake packages including bibs, nutcrackers, lobster picks, recipes and cooking instructions. Prices (including air express delivery) range from $77.95 for two lobsters, 2 pounds of littleneck steamer clams and 1 pint of clam chowder to $349.95 for 14 lobsters, 14 pounds of clams and seven pints of chowder.

The Great Main Lobster Co. Inc., Marine Trade Center, 2 Portland Fish Pier, Portland, Me., (800) 222-5033, specializes in lobsters, but can include steamer clams or mussels with any of the packages. Prices range from $40 to $200, plus shipping and handling. Some packages include lobster pots, potholders, bibs, place mats, crackers, “wetnaps” and instructions.