Lobster Roll article in the Trib

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertain ... 9328.story

Guess I'm going to have to go to Shaw's to check this out, as it seems to be the most authentic and simple imitation we have in this city of a genuine new england Lobster Roll!

When I tried the lobster roll at Shaw's, it was very skimpy on lobster--so much so, I sent it back (and I'm generally not a send-it-back kind of person). And I'm a huge fan of Shaw's.

After being gouged for a puny, kinda chlorine-y tasting lobster roll in Bar Harbor this summer ($15?!), I bought 5 steamed lobsters and made the Lobster rolls with lemon vinaigrette and garlic butter (the photo on the cover of Gourmet was irresistible). Outstanding. Not exactly traditional, but very, very good.

Went yesterday. Plenty of lobster in the roll. It was delicious. Can't say the same for the cup of gumbo that I had. It was quite bland.

I did have the lobster roll at The Fish Guy, and while decent, it wasn't anything to write home about. It was tiny, and served on a regular cheap hotdog bun. I would have expected more for the price, and I wouldn't order it again. The lobster was really fresh and delicious though.

After spending my entire summer in Maine, I quickly learned that the vast majority of lobster rolls are simply edible tourist traps. Most New Englanders don't go around making lobster rolls a part of their daily diet. I probably had 12+ different lobster rolls over the summer (hey...I WAS a tourist).

The best I found was also one of the least expensive. For about $10 I got almost an entire lobster, boiled, roughly chopped, and then quickly poached in butter when served. The meat was served in a very eggy, traditional bun with a light sprinkling of fresh herbs.

Traditional? Maybe not. But, IMHO, the simpler the preparation, the better quality the roll. The more filler one sees, one has to ask "What are they trying to hide?"

Anything over about $15 for a roll should be classified as highway robbery. Since the average roll has less than half a lobster worth of meat, at the general market price per lb...well, you do the math...

After spending the first 18 years of my life in New England, I can confirm that New Englanders don't in fact frequent the lobster roll, only occasionally in the summer maybe. In fact, I didn't have my first until 16 or so. I don't crave them, but it would sure be nice to have some authentic seafood shacks around Chicago.

And in reference to an earlier comment, hot dog buns are in fact the authentic vehicle for NE lobster rolls.

Great timing on this thread. While at the Underground Film Festibal on Wednesday night I tried to get a lobster salad sammich from Atwood cafe only to learn they no longer serve them, and I've been craving one for weeks. off to Shaw's I go.

After spending my entire summer in Maine

Where in Maine did you spend your summer, DClose?

I was in Brunswick, Me on the campus of Bowdoin College. I was managing the day-to-day operations for the Bowdoin International Music Festival. All-in-all, a great summer!

Last week in Providence, RI I experienced the lobster roll from D'Angelo. Not bad, and it did not follow every "guideline" that the Trib articles author seemed to call out.

I can't see eating more than one off these every few moons, the soup on the other hand I might go back for next week!




More noteworthy was the New England clam chowder!!

My point about the bun was more that I would have prefered a nice, fluffy, quality bun instead of a flat, dull, generic bun. For the cost, it should have been better. IMO the bread really makes or breaks any roll/ sandwich.

After experiencing the simple perfection of a lobster roll at Lobster Landing on the Connecticut shore last month I have no desire to try one in Chicago. There's a reason these things are a regional specialty.



Lobster Landing
152 Commerce St
Clinton CT
860-669-2005

Rene G wrote:After experiencing the simple perfection of a lobster roll at Lobster Landing on the Connecticut shore last month I have no desire to try one in Chicago. There's a reason these things are a regional specialty.

Couldn't agree more. Lobster rolls and crab cakes are two things I have no interest in eating in Chicago.

A handful of years ago, I had a gig at which my efforts saved several people their jobs, and I found myself getting tipped at a non-tip job. One of those people kept hooking me up with Lettuce Entertain You gift cards. For about six months, I ate regularly at Shaw's. I would hop on the Wendella boat taxi at Madison, take it over to Michigan Ave/Lower Wacker Drive, walk over to Shaw's, and eat dinner in the Blue Room. Their lobster roll was frequently found on my plate. I don't disagree with the criticisms previously stated in this thread about the poor comparability between Chicago and New England rolls, nor about the price per pound value of it. It is kind of a pedestrian seafood menu item. All I'm saying is that a Shaw's lobster roll with a pint of beer at the bar and the game on after a long day at work is a nice way to end the night. Judged solely on its deliciousness, it's a winner. Also, I liked a little side salad with it and the gumbo, too, though that could be hit and miss.

P.S. The Bears are really pissing me off right now. I feel like they should be mailing me a LEY gift card just for watching their crap ass play.

Rene G wrote:After experiencing the simple perfection of a lobster roll at Lobster Landing on the Connecticut shore last month I have no desire to try one in Chicago. There's a reason these things are a regional specialty.



Lobster Landing
152 Commerce St
Clinton CT
860-669-2005

ReneG,

You have picked one of the best there is. For the price and atmosphere there isn't much that can beat a lobster roll from Lobster Landing. My first trip to Lobster Landing was for lunch the day I proposed to the wife.

Flip

Hi,

I would be inclined to make one at home. Lobster is not too expensive presently. Unsplit rolls can be purchased at least at Woodman's.

Regards,

Had my first (and only) lobster roll at Neptune Oyster in Boston's North End over the summer. Was pretty damn tasty, though I ate it in about 2 minutes.

I tried The Fish Guy's Lobster rolls a few months back when he was running a 1/2 price special...BF and I agreed that the quality of the lobster was excellent, but the bread was just a typical hot dog bun, we would've enjoyed it more on some sort of challah or brioche.

I have also tried The Fish Guy's clamwich, which is served on a hamburger bun, although it doesn't seem to matter as much, as this sandwich isn't as delicate or nuanced as the lobster roll. The clamwich is a surf clam cutlet pounded out thin, then breaded and fried. It comes with a super tasty mayo based sauce (maybe there is fresh mint in there?) and a lightly seasoned vinegar cole slaw. I enjoyed mine, even if the clam didn't really taste like much except the breading and the frying...every once in a while a little clamminess came through, but as I said, this is not a subtle or nuanced 'wich.

Rene G wrote:There's a reason these things are a regional specialty.

I couldn't agree more. Would you order Italian beef in New Haven?

Reminds me of trying to find good Chinese food in Maine...good luck!

HI,

Why bother getting Mexican food outside of Mexico?

Regards,

With limited exceptions (certain places in Mexico's neighbor to the north), that's absolutely advice to live by.

Cathy2 wrote:Why bother getting Mexican food outside of Mexico?

You're being ironic, but getting Mexican food in a place where it's a specialty, like Chicago, is one thing. Getting Mexican food made by a non-Mexican chef who has seriously studied the cuisine, like Rick Bayless, is something else.

Getting Mexican food made by somebody who's never met a Mexican and learned everything they know by reading "365 Easy Mexican Recipes" is on a whole 'nother wavelength. Remind me to tell you about the lamb fajitas I had Australia some time.

I also think it would be a shame if you could get the same food made at the same level everywhere. What would be the fun of traveling?

Transplanted to NE from Chicago for a Job Relocation. Neptune Oyster in Boston's North End has a great Lobster Roll. In New England Lobster Rolls are sometimes featured at Church Fundraisers and Pot Lucks. Best overall experience is "Lobster on the Lawn" at First Babtist Church in Falmouth, MA. This Cape Cod tradition on Monday night's. A nice size Lobster roll and a bag of chip's plus a slice of seasonal pie (Blackberry, Blueberry, Raspberry as the season goes on) from June through August. One more is the colossal Lobster Roll served at the The Raw Bar in New Seabury's popular Popponesset Marketplace in Mashpee...big enough for two people.

jesteinf wrote:

Rene G wrote:After experiencing the simple perfection of a lobster roll at Lobster Landing on the Connecticut shore last month I have no desire to try one in Chicago. There's a reason these things are a regional specialty.

Couldn't agree more. Lobster rolls and crab cakes are two things I have no interest in eating in Chicago.

I think this is a case of a native knowing his home's cooking. I don't particularly enjoy the pizza, and especially the deep dish pizza, that I find the farther away I get from Chicago. (Before a fight breaks out, let me clarify I've never eaten pizza in New York, or Italy. I'm talking about pizza in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Idaho.)

So I can see why a New Englander wouldn't be interested in eating a lobster roll as far away from New England as Chicago.

But if it's not a food of your native land, if you've only known it as a tourist when visiting There, then isn't it reasonable to enjoy a reasonable facsimile of it when you find it Here?

I think of Chilean empanadas and pebre, for example. A Chilean visiting Chicago probably wouldn't enjoy any versions he found here other than those at the Latin Sandwich Cafe (formerly Rapa Nui) (if in fact he could even find any other versions). But for me, having been essentially a tourist in Chile, eating the empanadas and pebre at LSC is as close to being in Chile as I can get here in Chicago, and even the mediocre versions I can make at home bring back fond memories.

Katie wrote:I think this is a case of a native knowing his home's cooking. I don't particularly enjoy the pizza, and especially the deep dish pizza, that I find the farther away I get from Chicago. (Before a fight breaks out, let me clarify I've never eaten pizza in New York, or Italy. I'm talking about pizza in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Idaho.)

So I can see why a New Englander wouldn't be interested in eating a lobster roll as far away from New England as Chicago.

But if it's not a food of your native land, if you've only known it as a tourist when visiting There, then isn't it reasonable to enjoy a reasonable facsimile of it when you find it Here?

I think that's part of it, but part of the issue is finding a "reasonable facsimile". I'm not from Maryland, but the crab cakes I've eaten there have no "reasonable facsimile" in Chicago.

OTOH, Cafe Luigi provides a reasonable facsimile of NY style pizza (the kind I grew up on). So, while I know it's not as good, it's good enough.

What I got from the Tribune article was that probably the only two "reasonable facsimiles" worth seeking out and spending money on were Capt Porky's and Shaw's.

And I like Cathy2's suggestion about trying to make them at home, lobster prices being what they are these days. (Speaking of which, do I digress too much to ask where lobster prices have been observed lately to be particularly good? H Mart? Mitsuwa Market? Fish Guy?)

HI,

I saw lobster at H-Mart last week for $6.99 per pound.

Regards,

Has anyone ever had the privilege of sampling Red's Eats in Wiscasset, Me? This divine little eatery is to die for. I remember spending my teenage years devouring lobster rolls any time I passed through that quaint little village. You might even say it set me on my life-long culinary quest.

Main and Water Street
Wiscasset, ME

I Do It Daily wrote:Has anyone ever had the privilege of sampling Red's Eats in Wiscasset, Me? This divine little eatery is to die for. I remember spending my teenage years devouring lobster rolls any time I passed through that quaint little village. You might even say it set me on my life-long culinary quest.

Main and Water Street
Wiscasset, ME

Yes. Red's Eats is mentioned in a Maine thread or two that's around here.