When one thinks of Maine, one thinks of balsam firs, crystal clear lakes, fishing villages by the sea, but most of all, one thinks of lobster. During our stay at Flye Point, Maine, we ran over to Eaton's Fresh Lobster Pound and bought six crustaceans for dinner that night.
Once home, we put a big pot of water on the stove to boil. While waiting for the pot to boil, I mentioned to Evan (Buff and Herb's grandson from Denver who had arrived two days before) that once we had introduced "lobster racing" to three girls from Ireland who Will picked up on the train from Cork to Dublin. Yes, yes, that's another story...don't have time to tell about those three Irish Colleens who showed up at Logan Airport in Boston looking for a bed.
"Then let's go for it, Auntie Bobbie, let's have a race," shouted Evan, "Where should we have it?"
"The porch makes the most sense", said Tara, Evan's girlfriend. "We'll have to name them, of course. Everyone choose a lobster." As Tara picked up the biggest, she said, "He's a Monster, that's his name, Monster."
Holding one with barnacles all over the shell, Evan decided to name his Barnacle Billy.
The lobster that had one red rubberband and one green rubberband was St. Nick. Then there was Johann Sebastian, Lolita and PeeWee.
Tara found some masking tape and created the starting point at one end and the then another to mark the finish line. We all lined our lobsters up and Evan shouted "Go". Not one lobster moved. Then St. Nick started moving backwards....
Then several started going backwards. "Hey, guys, your going the wrong way!"
"No, No", shouted Mistress Elizabeth, " We advance, we always move forward. There will be no Dunkirk at Flye Point."
Sebastion inched forward as did Lolita. "Lolita, your in a race to win, why are you making a move on Johann Sebastian. Go girl. Ignore your roaring hormones. Go for the GOLD. Don't listen to Sebastian's Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring.
In the end, despite a slow beginning, St. Nick won fair and square. He literally left the others back at the finish line.
Race over, it was time to check the big pot...yup, it was boiling.
"Time for Nivana, guys". As Evan lifted each lobster he gave a short eulogy extolling the virtues of each one.
We waited.....
and finally the pot bubbled once again. Meanwhile, Colin, Evan's brother had set the table on the porch...a lobster feast was about to begin.
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Comments: 40
I LOVE lobsters.... don't think I could name them first though... once I name something, that's it... can't eat 'im!
A name is just a name unless it's a rose. Didn't someone famous say that? Your in lit, you should know.
I'd have to skip the naming part too, but I love lobster. We don't get it very often here. This is making my mouth water.
Hopefully the lobsters enjoyed the race before hitting the water.
And Evan gave each such a wonderful eulogy...he went on and on...course the Gin helped with the oratory.
At the break of dawn a further thought...how could you distinguish one from another in a race if you didn't name them?
My, those red lobsters look gorgeous as a centerpiece. I don't think the naming them first would work for me either, but the race looked like fun!
And they were scrumptious, Sherrie. And now I need to go to bed. Need to get up early tomorrow, going down the Cape to Provincetown.
Now I am salivating. These looked to be a fairly decent size too.
They were...and with a tossed salad, a fruit salad and pasta, they filled the void.
drooling and wishing I was in this photo essay...
sigh...I love lobsters cooked to perfection...butter lemon and a bit of white wine.
See all the reasons why you should come to Boston, Jan....you could be in one of my photo/essays and going to the races. Back in Maine, they race lobsters, not horses.
They ran their race and then went to God. Such is life.
Ce la vie. No more need be spoken.
What fun. Great photos and essay!
Thanks for stopping by, Marianne.
Yum!! I love lobster, but I have always had it cooked at a restraunt, or even shaws will steam it for you. Once I did cook a lobster at home and I let Hannah check him out. we only had one so no races, but we watched him do his last dance. Then when it was his time to go in the pot. Hannah freaked out!! she was crying etc., I was little upset too! I had never had to kill for my dinner before. Any way I that was the first and last time I cooked lobster! I love your pictures, and maybe some day when Hannah is old enough we can sip gin, have lobster races and not be so sad to cook up such a delicious dinner!!
Thanks for sharing all of your Maine adventures! I enjoy reading your stories.
That's the thing when you have little people...reality hits...you are killing a live thing. I didn't realize Shaw's would steam one for you. How interesting.
OH MY GOD! I'm laughing so hard here that I can hardly breathe! Lobster races? That's just too funny!!!!
I"m still laughing! If I could rate this higher than a 10, I would!
Did you know laughter was very good for the soul and so it seems my article accomplished it's goal.
What a party you had along with a feast. One of life's high points.
We did have quite the evening.
Funny story, elizabeth. But I'm with flit. I'd have trouble eating soemthing I named.
Unless I named him "Delicious." There you go ...
Maybe next time there can be "Delicious", "Delectable", "Divine" "Scrumptious" and "Mouth-Watering". How about that?
Works for me. I'll draw the butter.
I love lobster. I have boiled my own but it was already dead when I bought it from the grocery store. I'd have a hard time killing it, especially if I named it and raced it.
Cute photo essay though. It looks like everyone had a great time and a scrumptious feast.
Glad you enjoyed the photo/essay. I think because I live so close to the ocean, and we eat so much shell fish, regular fish, etc, we really don't think about the killing part...
Just got back from 2 days in Provincetown....so I'll be around to check out what's happening to Virginia. Leave for Washington, DC on Friday to visit Will for the week-end.
Now I want lobster ;) Sounds like so much fun topped off by the perfect meal.
It was scrunptious, Nana.
Not sure I could name and race em before dropping them in the boiling water...seems so cruel to me to put a live thing in boiling water....but then I think...what are fresh from the garden veggies..but live in the dirt or off the vine...only to be sliced and diced and chewed up....ewwwwwww....we could freak ourselves out all the time thinking about such things...but you won't ever see me cooking a live lobster...for one thing they scare me..totally freaking scare me.....so lobster tails is about all I can eat, of course already cooked before it comes to the table, that way I can kind of forget what the monster looked like that it came off.....
but I gave you a 10 anywho...because it was a fun and incrediblely friendly lovely time had by all showing.....
well...except the Lobsters.....I'm hoping they have evolved in such a way that they pass out and feel no pain once they feel the heat of the water ....can you tell I'm freaked?
Katherine...I helped them on their way to Nirvana, as I see it.
Lobstah! Yes! Why are you tiring out perfectly good food? Heh, heh! But to be honest, I like Blue Crab better. Then again, I do come from Maryland, where crabs and oysters rule.
Funny, Evan's brother said several times "Evan, your not suppose to play with your food."
I love crabs and raw oysters too...maybe next time we can have a crab race.
This was such fun to read and see. I can't imagine doing it though.
It was a whole lot of fun, Sheila.
They look terrific old red and boiled and ready to munch on. The best lobster I ever had was in Boston and in Newport.