[Along the Maine Seacoast] — When you think of Maine, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Is it lobster? The clawed crustacean is certainly one of the state’s iconic symbols. And Maine lobster is known for its taste and quality, due to the state’s clear, cold waters. Lobstermen and women harvest their catch working from small boats, using wooden or mesh traps.
Maine lobster certainly is popular: almost 90 percent of lobster sold in the U.S. comes from this state. Last year, lobsterman harvested a record 93 million pounds with a value of $300 million. That’s a lot of lobster rolls.
So what’s the best way to eat lobster? Naturally, opinions differ. You can have it boiled, steamed, baked — on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula I’ve had it grilled — but my personal favorite method of consumption is the lobster roll, a simple yet elegant treat: chunks of fresh lobster claw meat, mixed with mayo and served over lettuce on a buttered, lightly-toasted hot dog bun. “That’s a traditional Maine lobster roll,” Brendon Alterio, manager of Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster in South Freeport told me. “Simple but tasty.”
As part of my “Lighthouses, Lobster, and Living to Ride” story for HOG magazine, I made it my mission to sample a few lobster rolls along the Maine seacoast. I’ll leave it to others to decide who’s got the best, but I will tell you that of the four or five places I tried, there wasn’t a bad one in the bunch.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster: www.harraseeketlunchandlobster.com
Maine Lobster Council: www.lobsterfrommaine.com
Maine tourism: www.visitmaine.com
Lobsters freak me out as much as they fascinate me! It was a great one as usual. It was as good as it looks! That looks really good.
Yum! sounds great!
Great photos! I absolutely loved Maine, but can’t say I tried the lobster… I don’t eat seafood. But I’m glad you enjoyed all the places you tried!
I might be the only one in the world who doesn’t like lobster, but when I tried it (at a nice restaurant, no less!) in Cape Cod I really wasn’t impressed! Maybe because it was built up so much, but it was just sort of bland and not worth the effort, in my opinion. Maybe a lobster roll would be different, though?
Weew, How I wish I could eat lobster at least once a month. But here in our place it’s hard to find that tasty lobster.
Being from Nova Scotia, I have eaten a few lobster in day. I love buying them live, and throwing them in a pot of sea water. I eat my lobster with nothing else…just lobster. Living in Korea I don’t get the chance to eat these tasty critters very often, but once in a while the local Costco imports NS lobster, and I am the first in line :)
Great post!
Bet those lobsters are expensive in Korea!
My husband is from Maine and after we were married we went to Maine in 2003….every lobster I had was delish!! The Red Lobster here in Ga has a lobster roll, but it is nothing like what you would get in Maine. It is a poor substitute, but at least we can get a little taste of lobster.
I know, somehow a lobster roll in Georgia isn’t the same!
I would be in a very big trouble if I had to eat them! :) Lobsters freak me out as much as they fascinate me! :D
Yum! Poor little fellows, but, well YUM!
agreed, on both counts!
I can eat lobster for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The roll sounds delicious. I had the grilled variety sprinkled with lemon juice and chopped parsley in Martinique. Loved that too.
sounds great!
Lobstah – you sound just like me!
You from Maine, Ben?
that looks like a damn good reason to get over to maine. lobster cooked anyway sounds unbelievable to me!
Between the lobster and the Maine scenery, you won’t want to leave.
Read your article in HOG today. It was a great one as usual. I lived in Maine when I was a little boy. I’ll have to schedule a visit soon.
Thanks Jay.
That looks really good. I love lobster
It was as good as it looks!
Oh, now I’m hungry! I prefer my lobster grilled (Baja style), but would glad indulge in lobster prepared in the Maine tradition – especially if I could be enjoying the Maine seacoast at the same time.
Grilled lobster in Baja, lobster rolls in Maine — just thinking about it makes me want to hit the road again!