Clams with Garlic Sauce

FOR THE CLAMS:
In a bowl, cover the clams and cornmeal with water; add the salt. Soak for 45 minutes; drain and rinse. Heat the oil in a nonreactive skillet. Add the onion and cook over moderate heat until translucent. Add the clams, wine, lemon juice, chile, bay leaves, paprika and pepper. Cover and cook over high heat, stirring; remove the clams as they open.

FOR THE SAUCE:
In a blender or mini-processor, puree the garlic with 5 tablespoons of the parsley and the saffron. Add the fish stock and the garlic mixture to the skillet and cook until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 1 minute.

TO SERVE:
Divide the clams among 4 soup plates, spoon the garlic sauce on top and garnish with the remaining 1 tablespoon parsley.

WINE RECOMMENDATION:
The garlicky clams might be paired with a number of whites, but the sharpness of the vinaigrette would diminish the taste of rich, round bottlings. Stick with tart, simple whites, such as those from Spain, notably the 1993 Conde de Valdemar Blanco en Barrica or the 1994 Albari–o Lagar de Cervera.