Both Lobster And Shellfish Are Taste Bud Titans

Enjoying a delicious dinner of fresh shellfish is a pleasure that nobody should miss. It is easiest to do this, of course, if you live on the coast or nearby. However, if you live inland and don't have good access to seafood, there may be a specialty shop or a restaurant in your area that can sell you fish that were flown in that day. Of course the best place to get fresh seafood is from a reputable online vendor. With the introduction of overnight delivery from Fedex to the continental US, there is absolutely no reason for you not to enjoy a fresh seafood meal on a regular basis. Frozen fish is a poor substitute.

Lobster is, of course, the greatest dish among all seafood. However, the first person to try and eat one must have been courageous, and they were not popular for many years. A little known fact is that lobster, though now an expensive delicacy, was once the food of the lower class. Though this is true, it's probably of little consolation when one has to pay $11.95 per pound in stores, or as much as $29.95 in a restaurant. Most times, it's best to order lobster online to ensure that you are getting it as fresh as possible. That way, one can order it fresh from the coast on which it was caught and have it shipped direct, even to the deserts of Arizona.

If you wish to prepare lobster at home, you buy one per person, alive and kicking at your fishmonger or seafood counter, bringing them home in a bag. Do not put them in fresh water; people often do, but it will kill them. Just close the bag well and keep it in the refrigerator. They don't really keep: plan to eat them that evening.

The hardest part in preparing lobster is the actual act of killing it. For the squeamish, the easiest and most humane way to end a lobster's life is to plunge it in to boiling water. Another, faster option in butchering a lobster is to use a knife to make a quick incision between the lobster's head and body. Not only does the latter technique kill the lobster immediately, but it also allows for more creative cooking options, such as steaming or grilling the lobster.

Serve your lobster with some butter and lemon, put on a bib, and don't stand on ceremony. There are tasty morsels of meat all throughout the shell. Green tomalley or red roe which you may find in the body is edible as well, and gourmets prize it.

Lobster doesn't have to be the only dish served at this kind of ocean-themed meal. Fresh shellfish such as mussels, steamer clams, oysters, shrimp and crayfish are all delicious ways to enjoy the gifts of the sea. Mussels are excellent when scrubbed and steamed in water, wine or broth. Steamer clams are dipped in their own broth after steaming to remove any remaining sand. Oysters are perhaps the most versatile of all, being popular fried, baked and even raw.

For those who are intimidated by all these kinds of seafood, there exists another option. Clam chowder may be found in the soup aisle of most major grocery stores. Although fresh fish is always best, this chowder will provide you with the true salty taste of the ocean. Pretend that you're on a beach holiday by serving the chowder with oyster crackers, a splash of cream, and a generous amount of ground black pepper.

A dinner of fresh shellfish is an experience nobody should miss. If you don't live near the coast, you can still enjoy shellfish at a specialty shop or restaurant that can sell you fish flown in that day. You can also purchase seafood from a reputable online vendor. The king of seafood is the lobster, and to ensure you're getting the freshest, order it online. Humanely prepare the meal by dropping them in water at a rolling boil. With lemon and butter this shellfish tastes delicious. Other ocean-themed meals include mussels, fresh fish, oysters or clam chowder. Sit back with your meal and pretend you're on the beach.

- Matthew Lewis