What's the deal with lobster?

[seodoa]

While reading a recent GQ thread, I got to wondering...

I love seafood. I love all kinds of seafood, including many of our tasty shellfish cousins.

That being said, what's the big deal with lobster? People regularly pay beaucoup bucks for this "delicacy." My issue? It's surprisingly mediocre. It's almost always served basted in fats and seasonings. What's the point? If it is worth the price, it should be delectable, more or less, on its own.

Do people only like it because it is expensive? Or am I just some bumpkin whose tastes are merely too provincial?

[Oakminster]

They're edible, but not high on my list of favorite seafood. I'd rather have shrimp, oysters or various types of fish.

[Interconnected Series of Tubes]

I'm not sure what lobster you're eating. Mine is always frigging delicious.

[Darryl Lict]

It's about my favorite food of all time. Just dipped in clarified butter, lobster bisque, lobster rolls, stir fried lobster with ginger and scallions, I love it all. I mentioned in another thread that I've started fishing for lobster by kayak, which is a pain in the ass, but pretty friggin' awesome which you catch one.

[jovan]

Originally Posted by seodoa

It's almost always served basted in fats and seasonings. What's the point? If it is worth the price, it should be delectable, more or less, on its own.

And it is! Seriously, if it's "basted in fats and seasonings", you're not having it at the right place.

[levdrakon]

I love lobster. There's something unique about the texture, flavor, color etc. It's viscerally satisfying in ripping that carapace apart. It doesn't help that a good garlic, lemon butter sauce is like heroin to me.

[Mesquite-oh]

Lobster has a slightly bitter taste to me. I don't really see lobster as the ultimate or tastiest non-fish seafood. Shrimp, prawns, and sea scallops all have a cleaner and sweeter taste to me.

[seodoa]

Originally Posted by jovan

And it is! Seriously, if it's "basted in fats and seasonings", you're not having it at the right place.

I'm referring to dishes like lobster thermidor, lobster newberg, lobster bisque, and many of the other classic recipes that all seem to involve either tons of butter/cream or cheese or both. Also in indirect reference to the fact that it is often served with a bowl of butter in which one is meant to dunk it.

Originally Posted by Mesquite-oh

Lobster has a slightly bitter taste to me. I don't really see lobster as the ultimate or tastiest non-fish seafood. Shrimp, prawns, and sea scallops all have a cleaner and sweeter taste to me.

I agree. I would much rather have shrimp over lobster. If the restaurant is good, I will have scallops, but many less expensive restaurants tend to cook those into inedible rubber. As far as non-piscine seafood goes, though, I'm a larger fan of clams, oysters, and mussels. Although those are molluscs, not decapods.

As far as the decapods go, I would say my favorite is crab (tastes good to me even with very little or no seasoning), which is another expensive meat and again, it is not so overwhelmingly delicious as to justify the (usually) high price. Luckily, the town where I live now specializes in crab so, if I get a jonesin, I can find it for pretty cheap.

I know this is one of those deals that boils down to personal preference, hence placing it in IMHO. I really appreciate hearing what others have to say about it.

ETA: Those of you who like/love/can't-live-without lobster, would you say the happiness/good juju derived from tasting lobster is sufficient to justify paying top dollar? Does shrimp just not do it for you?

[Darryl Lict]

I hardly ever pay for it because I'm on a limited budget, but I'll splurge occasionally. Even if I can't catch the damn things, I can still buy them freshly caught and live at the fisherman's market. I also forgot to mention lobster burritos from Puerto Nuevo!

[bouv]

You people do realize you're basically eating giant, underwater cockroaches, right?

[Napier]

I love lobster, boiled and broken open and eaten as is or maybe dipped in a little drawn butter. Can't imagine seasoning it.

One of my most memorable meals was when a friend and I dropped in on her parents, who lived on the waterfront in Marblehead, Massachusetts. They said they didn't have anything to offer us except maybe some canned soup, and then Mom thought, Why don't you go check the pots? Dad says, Aw, not lobster again. Mom says, Well go look, and the kids can have lobster and we'll have soup. Dad says, Hey, great, goes out in a rowboar and in ten minutes comes back with a dozen lobsters. I had three, and they were wonderful. Mom and Dad had the Campbell's.

Another memorable meal was while traveling on business in Boston. A three pound lobster. Mmmmmm.

And an amusement. A friend and I ate at a local "Allison's" franchise - sort of a fern bar, not very fancy. The waitress said the special was "three to four pound lobsters". We were amazed, asking if they brought it out on a leash, etc etc. Waitress didn't see what the big deal was but went back to check. On returning she says she's supposed to call it "a three quarter pound lobster". Apparently the distinction between "3 - 4" and "3/4" was lost on her.

[Shark Sandwich]

To me, shrimp and lobster taste nothing alike (rock shrimp comes close). A fresh, properly cooked (I like mine just past rare) lobster is way more better than any shrimp I've ever had. Grilled or steamed in wine, it don't get much better.

I dive though, and have had them water to plate in about 45 minutes. If your only experience with lobster is from chain restaurants or frozen, it's just not the same.

[norinew]

I love lobster. IMHO, drowning them in drawn butter is a waste, as the flavor of the fat overwhelms the lovely, mild sweetness of the lobster meat. Very (and I mean very) lightly seasoned, and then just a squeeze of lemon juice, and I'm good to go.

Of course, if said lobster is stuffed with crab imperial, all the better!

This is not to say I don't enjoy a good lobster bisque or lobster thermidor, but the best lobster is steamed, and just spritzed with fresh lemon.

By the by, I've never been able to bring myself to try the "Lobster Bites" at Long John Silver's. Anyone?

[FinnAgain]

Originally Posted by bouv

You people do realize you're basically eating giant, underwater cockroaches, right?

If cockroaches tasted that good, I'd eat them, too.

As it is, I'm allergic to shellfish and have been for more than half of my life. The last time I ate lobster, in fact, was when I was 13 or so and visiting family friends in Maine. Now, just being in the same room as those hibachi tables at Japanese restaurants, if they're cooking shrimp, will have me wheezing in no time flat.
~sigh~

I hate all you lobster eaters.
Don't even get me started on how much I miss soft shelled crab.

[Hi, Neighbor!]

Lobster is a status symbol. It's delicious, but yes, I think it is overpriced. However, didn't Long John Silver's sell fried lobster bites or something a little while back? Your guess is as good as mine if they were using real lobster.

EDIT: Sorry, norinew, you mentioned the lobster bites first!

[Hi, Neighbor!]

Originally Posted by bouv

You people do realize you're basically eating giant, underwater cockroaches, right?

This is why I hate having to crack them open at some restaurants. It's just a hard carapace that reminds me of eating an insect. But then again I'm squeamish to ugly little bugs.

I feel the same way about shrimp.

These creatures are UGLY, man.

[Jack Batty]

Love shrimp.

Hate lobster.

I only state this because I think it's possible I'm the only Doper currently residing in Maine, so by law, I'm forced to offer a lobster opinion.

Lobster makes me gag.

[FinnAgain]

Originally Posted by Hi, Neighbor!

Lobster is a status symbol.

Interestingly enough, lobster used to be "poor person food".

[Hi, Neighbor!]

Originally Posted by FinnAgain

Interestingly enough, lobster used to be "poor person food".

My dad was telling me that when he was younger, pasta used to be a "poor person food" as well. Now we see that most pasta dishes, like a simple chicken and linguine dinner at, say, the Olive Garden, are in the upper echelon of meal prices. Eating pasta is "dainty" I suppose, because it takes a level of dexterity and elegance to twirl and eventually place a bite into your mouth.

I was reading an article on tips to get the most out of your money at buffets, and the number one tip was to avoid the pasta bar. Pasta costs virtually nothing in bulk, something around $0.27/pound. So eating pasta fills you up faster and also provides the restaurant with the widest profit margin. It's sick.

[LavenderBlue]

Originally Posted by bouv

You people do realize you're basically eating giant, underwater cockroaches, right?

I've never been able to eat one again since learning this.

[norinew]

Originally Posted by bouv

You people do realize you're basically eating giant, underwater cockroaches, right?

Totally! This makes me absolutely convinced that the first poor bastard to ever attempt to eat one must have been mighty damned hungry! However, it was brilliant!

[levdrakon]

I would happily eat cockroaches if they were filled with lobster meat.

Genetic engineers: get on that! Make 'em lobster sized, and grow on trees, too.

[Hi, Neighbor!]

Originally Posted by levdrakon

I would happily eat cockroaches if they were filled with lobster meat.

Genetic engineers: get on that! Make 'em lobster sized, and grow on trees, too.

I would totally welcome a roach infestation then.

[maladroit]

Originally Posted by bouv

You people do realize you're basically eating giant, underwater cockroaches, right?

I do actually have that exact thought every time I eat lobster/shrimp, but it's so good I manage to get it down anyway. I think about my love of seafood every time I see someone eat bugs/grubs whatever on tv and get grossed out - a little voice says "you eat seafood and that's just giant bugs"

[Influential Panda]

I had some Lobster in Maine this summer. Steamed and served on a plain white hotdog bun with french fries and a lemon. No salt, no pepper. Overall, it was pretty good, but nothing I'd pay $20 for again.

[MacTech]

Originally Posted by Jack Batty

Love shrimp.

Hate lobster.

I only state this because I think it's possible I'm the only Doper currently residing in Maine, so by law, I'm forced to offer a lobster opinion.

Lobster makes me gag.

Nope, you're not the only Mainer on SDMB, I'm a Mainer too

as far as lobstah goes, I LOVE it, I wonder if the people who dislike it have ever had one fresh off the boat, minutes out of the ocean, lobster does not travel well

If you want the best lobster experience possible, find a small coastal resturant that gets their critters daily, fresh off the boat is the only way to truly enjoy them

I've had lobster fresh off the boat, and some from the megaconglomerate grocer, there *IS* a difference, lobster shipped in from a central vendor is bland and slightly rubbery, fresh off the boat, it has a flakier consistency and delicate sweetness

[Rhythmdvl]

Lobster = cockroach

Shrimp = silverfish

Oysters/Clams = water filters

Crabs = well, crabs... duh.



Is there any truth to the idea that "Interestingly enough, lobster used to be poor person food" ?

Is Chilean seabass really just pattagonia toothfish remarketed?

[mswas]

I heard that in the early days of the American colonies Lobster was considered a common man's food. No cite on that though.

I don't like it. Love shrimp, find Lobster kind of dull.

[levdrakon]

Originally Posted by MacTech

I've had lobster fresh off the boat, and some from the megaconglomerate grocer, there *IS* a difference, lobster shipped in from a central vendor is bland and slightly rubbery, fresh off the boat, it has a flakier consistency and delicate sweetness

When I lived in San Diego, I had a friend with a boat. He said you could sail down to Mexico and a fisherman would come up and trade you fresh lobster for a carton of Marlboros or something. Living on a boat and trading things to fisherman for fresh lobster became my vision of heaven.

[Magiver]

Originally Posted by seodoa

While reading a recent GQ thread, I got to wondering...

I love seafood. I love all kinds of seafood, including many of our tasty shellfish cousins.

That being said, what's the big deal with lobster? People regularly pay beaucoup bucks for this "delicacy." My issue? It's surprisingly mediocre. It's almost always served basted in fats and seasonings. What's the point? If it is worth the price, it should be delectable, more or less, on its own.

Do people only like it because it is expensive? Or am I just some bumpkin whose tastes are merely too provincial?

I would agree that it requires seasoning but if done right is wonderful. If I just was drowning it in butter I would rank king crab higher but Lobster is still great.

[guizot]

Originally Posted by Darryl Lict

I also forgot to mention lobster burritos from Puerto Nuevo!

Did you know that Puerto Nuevo was once just a couple of houses where you ate in their dining rooms?

Anyway, there's another place in the area that offers all kinds of seafood for a good price, and it isn't trampled by tourists. You have to take a long dirt road from the highway, and I'm not even sure if the place has a name.

[RealityChuck]

I love lobster. Last summer, I was introduce to it Bay of Fundy style -- cold with just a little bit of butter. Amazing.

Of course, it helps that they caught it earlier that day.

When I was a kid, our birthday treat was a lobster dinner. Only the birthday boy could have it, though; the other two of us had to watch enviously.

[Kyrie Eleison]

Originally Posted by Rhythmdvl

Is there any truth to the idea that "Interestingly enough, lobster used to be poor person food" ?

Yup:

Originally Posted by The Gulf of Maine Research Institute

Long ago, lobsters were so plentiful that Native Americans used them to fertilize their fields and to bait their hooks for fishing. In colonial times, lobsters were considered "poverty food." They were harvested from tidal pools and served to children, to prisoners, and to indentured servants, who exchanged their passage to America for seven years of service to their sponsors. In Massachusetts, some of the servants finally rebelled. They had it put into their contracts that they would not be forced to eat lobster more than three times a week.

[Knorf]

I <3 lobster. But I agree it's usually way overpriced.

[Qadgop the Mercotan]

Originally Posted by Knorf

I <3 lobster. But I agree it's usually way overpriced.

You teabag lobster?


I like lobster, but not that much.

[Furious_Marmot]

Originally Posted by bouv

You people do realize you're basically eating giant, underwater cockroaches, right?

I realize this was meant in jest, but my inner pedant cannot let it go.

The subphyla into which lobsters and roaches are classed (crustacea and hexapoda, respectively) are within the same phylum (arthropoda). The system is admittedly imperfect but it is used by biologists and paleontologists all over the world, so it's what we've got.
So, it is roughly equivalent to say, in a discussion about eating elephants: "You realize you are eating giant, terrestrial tunicates, right?". Phylum chordata, subphylum craniata and urochordata, respectively. Less preposterously, you could say elephants and rats (order mammalia).

[Furious_Marmot]

Dang it! Mammalia is a class, not an order.

[Creaky]

When I was a kid I was expected to eat what was in front of me.

One night we had lobster, and I didn't like it. I was six years old and it tasted too rich and buttery and totally gagged me.

My parents were like, stay at the table til you eat it.

So I sat at the table for a long time, probably an hour or more after dinner. I really didn't WANT to eat that lobster.

Finally I did eat it. By the time I did it was ice cold and rubbery and clotted with cold congealed butter, but I ate it because I knew I'd spend the night sitting up at the table if I didn't.

Later that night I threw it up all over my bedroom.

I haven't been able to eat it since, except once, many years later, when an old boyfriend made lobster. It still wasn't good. Thank God he was a cheap-ass and had bought small ones.

[Quercus]

Originally Posted by Furious_Marmot

[Lobster = cockroaches]
I realize this was meant in jest, but my inner pedant cannot let it go.

The subphyla into which lobsters and roaches are classed (crustacea and hexapoda, respectively) are within the same phylum (arthropoda). The system is admittedly imperfect but it is used by biologists and paleontologists all over the world, so it's what we've got.
So, it is roughly equivalent to say, in a discussion about eating elephants: "You realize you are eating giant, terrestrial tunicates, right?". Phylum chordata, subphylum craniata and urochordata, respectively. Less preposterously, you could say elephants and rats (order mammalia).

Well, lobsters are closer to cockroaches than pretty much any other (North American) human food (aside from crabs, shrimp and the occasional novelty chocolate-covered mealworm). Plus, the comparison is also based on the idea that lobsters are, like roaches, scavenging bottom-feeders eating whatever rotting stuff they stumble across (partially true, though lobsters also prey on live shellfish and anything else they can catch). Though in practice, a significant amount of lobster diet in the NE comes from bait in lobster traps (I was told by a researcher that the mass of bait put into traps each year is a little more than the mass of lobsters caught). So maybe free-range farmed pigs are the better comparison.



On lobsters being poor food of old, the -- completely unverified-- story I heard was of families in financial reverses a generation or so ago carefully making sure the shells weren't visible in their garbage, so they could avoid the shame of having their neighbors know that the family was reduced to eating lobster.

[Darryl Lict]

Originally Posted by bouv

You people do realize you're basically eating giant, underwater cockroaches, right?

I heard that giant tarantulas taste like crab. I'd eat one, but I'm nuts.

Originally Posted by guizot

Did you know that Puerto Nuevo was once just a couple of houses where you ate in their dining rooms?

Anyway, there's another place in the area that offers all kinds of seafood for a good price, and it isn't trampled by tourists. You have to take a long dirt road from the highway, and I'm not even sure if the place has a name.

You're not talking about that old hotel in San Quintin, are you? Delicious crab claws and margaritas! Is this place somewhere near Rosarito?

[Earl Snake-Hips Tucker]

Originally Posted by bouv

You people do realize you're basically eating giant, underwater cockroaches, right?

That's one way of looking at it.

But you and I are probably more closely related to a chicken than a cockroach is to a lobster.

[guizot]

Originally Posted by Darryl Lict

You're not talking about that old hotel in San Quintin, are you? Delicious crab claws and margaritas! Is this place somewhere near Rosarito?

It's near Rosarito, I think between Rosarito and Puerto Nuevo. I'm not sure if there's a hotel there, and I don't think it's called San Quintin.

[Constant Reader]

I grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts. When I was young, 6-7 years old, I would go out with my neighbor on his boat to help pull in the traps/pots. I was always sent home with bucket of fresh, pinchy lobster.

I never did like it though, along with the Mussels and crabs that were brought home. I much preferred the Flounder I often caught myself.

I'm a vegetarian now, who doesn't eat fish, but I miss a good Flounder.

[lobotomyboy63]

Originally Posted by levdrakon

I would happily eat cockroaches if they were filled with lobster meat.

Genetic engineers: get on that! Make 'em lobster sized, and grow on trees, too.

And don't forget Lobster Motels for the kitchen floor! Woo hoo!

I don't dislike shrimp but I don't see what the fuss is about. Lobster's got that nice slightly sweet taste.

I heard once (sorry, no cite) that in the pilgrim era, they were catching lobsters 5 feet long. Dayum! I could make that last for two meals, maybe!

I dated a girl in high school whose family was so rich that when she slept around she didn't get the crabs...she got the lobsters! (Paraphrased) Robin Williams.

[Vinyl Turnip]

Add me to the list of those underwhelmed by lobster. It isn't bad, but I was expecting a religious experience. IMO the flavor is inferior to that of King Crab legs.

[levdrakon]

Originally Posted by Vinyl Turnip

Add me to the list of those underwhelmed by lobster. It isn't bad, but I was expecting a religious experience. IMO the flavor is inferior to that of King Crab legs.

King Crab is expensive too, though. I love it just as much as lobster.

[Hazle Weatherfield]

I think that fresh lobster is the tastiest thing there is (ok, crab legs, too!) DO NOT PUT ANYTHING ON IT! Not even butter! How many foods are there that are perfection without ANY seasonings whatsoever? Lobster and Crab legs and fruit are the only things I can come up with.

[Cervaise]

Fresh New England lobster, an hour out of the water, simply prepared, with tomalley intact, is a very good thing.

However, as far as Edible Oceangoing Bugs are concerned, lobster places a distant second to Dungeness crab, which is a thousand simultaneous blowjobs in your mouth.

[nashiitashii]

Originally Posted by bouv

You people do realize you're basically eating giant, underwater cockroaches, right?

But that's what makes them so tasty! There's a sushi bar in this area that makes a really awesome lobster sushi; it isn't, however, in any way traditional.

Sadly enough, before I opened it, I thought this thread was going to be about that urban legend with the girl, the lobster, and the cigarette lighter.

[gravitycrash]

It's all about perception for me. If a great medium-rare steak looked like a lobster I still wouldn't eat it. My brother orders a huge lobster seemingly everytime we eat with the family at a restaurant . I know the bastard does it on purpose just as I will have heaps of Brussels Sprouts or Broccoli at Thanksgiving or other holidays with the family just so the kitchen will smell just right for bro.

Can you tell that we have a love/hate type of relationship?