re: obleaki - thanks. i've ordered plenty of dungeness and copper river salmon from a place in seattle but i can't recall the name right now. cityfish is good to hang onto.
heading back for new year's on whidbey.... mmmmm, mussels...

I don't know if the Pacific Northwest type of fish and seafood is what you're looking for, but this company has always done a great job of shipping to me now that I am marooned in the midwest. http://www.cityfish.com/1-800-334-2669/index.html

thanks, gale. i'd like to sound all altruistic but i want it too.

Second Browne Trading in Portland - they are a great resource for fresh, quality seafood and are very experienced at shipping overnight as they supply some of the best restaurants in the East. Pricey and well worth it for those of us with no alternative. I also think you sound pretty great for going to all this trouble for your "nephew-in-law". Lucky him and thank heaven for FedEx.

btw, mainecook - thanks for the tip. they were closed but i'll call them tomorrow.

thanks, dude. i've done the very same but as a poor architecture student in trestevere; it probably wasn't nearly the experience as yours but it was fantastic. i know, fo7f (sorry to resort to abbreviations, but it's late) often involves no clams outside of the linguine con le vongole in the second course, but it seems important to him.

personally, i like eel (in certain situations), but it won't float with the family this year.

keep in mind this kid is from long island and not sicily; within families things can change over time.

again, thank you for your advice.

To jvsjr; I wish you the best in your quest. I've actually dined on the "seven fishes" in Rome on Christmas Eve and clams were not part of the package (I think that's an American re-interpretation) if that eases your conscience. One of the "fishes" was eel and you can safely order that smoked if you like, and if your relatives will actually eat it. Me, I eat everything. Good luck.

@ pierino: i completely understand the inherent compromise in ordering online vs. purchasing at a local seaside market. unfortunately that's not an option in this case unless we want to have the feast of seven catfish, bass, crappie, and perhaps a little baccala (my favorite part actually). The mussel / clam thing seems to be important to him. just looking for a good source.
I appreciate the input nonetheless.

The thought of buying seafood on line as opposed to line caught is not an endeavor I would encourage you in, period stop. Too many things can go wrong unless you are dealing with a seafood wholesaler. The best you might be able to do is to find frozen scallops or something. An alternative would be dried salt cod (baccala) which is, from the get go, meant to be preserved and then reconstituted over about 24 hours.

yes, i would have realized that if i had just clicked on the link you so generously provided. thank you.

jvsjr, yes, there are 3 or 4 in the city, and at least one in the Hamptons (E. Hampton.) Upscale groceries, but they started as a fish/seafood shop, I believe.

@ amysarah: thanks. that's the grocery chain throughout manhattan (maybe further as far as i know), right?

Browne Trading Company, Portland, Maine.

I'm pretty sure Citarella (in NYC and Long Island) ships outside of the city: http://www.citarella.com/Index.asp?Department=5
Should warn you that they're kind of pricey - but a great selection and quality.