Wednesday, June 15, 2011

National Lobster Day!


Does this photo look like it could have been taken in New England? 

 

Or this?

I found out today that today, June 15, is National Lobster Day, and I would be remiss if I did not tell you about my favorite places to buy fresh lobster!


New England is known for its lobster, but all the scenes above were taken at a Brooklyn institution called Jordan's Lobster Dock, located at 3165 Harkness Avenue in the  Sheepshead Bay neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY.  Jordan's has been a favorite retail shop for lobster in New York since 1938.  

There is a 2005 Martin Scorsese film production that was written, produced, and directed by Kevin Jordan, and stars Danny Aiello and Jane Curtin, called "Brooklyn Lobster," that chronicle's the family's efforts to salvage their seafood operation when the bank defaulted on a loan they had secured to finance a restaurant extension to the business. According to the movie’s production notes, Bill Jordan, the “lobster king of New York,” “was the first to air-ship lobsters packed in barrels of seaweed and is responsible for the glass lobster tanks found in local supermarkets today.”


Thankfully, although their operation became smaller, they were able to remain in business, as Jordan's had some of the best prices for fresh imported Maine lobster of any place I know, and I have been buying my lobsters here for many years.

According to the Jordan's Lobster Dock website: "Centuries ago in North America, 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 “food for the poor.” 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 became so tired of eating lobster that they had it put into their contracts they would not be forced to eat lobster more than three times a week!"


Jordan's has a small counter style restaurant but I always stop in to buy my live lobster, have them steam it and gut it for no extra charge, and then I take it home for further preperation.


My favorite summer time way to finish preparing the steamed Jordan's lobster is just warm it up on the grill, crack it open, serve with melted butter and enjoy!


Another Brooklyn institution, in business at the same location for 56 years, is Nick's Lobster, located at 2777 Flatbus Ave.  Nick began his lobster career by docking his lobster boat at the current location on Flatbush Ave. and sell his fresh caught lobsters from a shack to passers by.



A retail fish and lobster shop soon followed.


Nick's has grown over the years to a 300 seat indoor and outdoor patio restaurant, serving new generations of Brooklynites from all around the world!


You can see the homes and boat docks of the nearby Mill Basin neighborhood of Brooklyn from their patio.



My husband and I like to drop into Nick's for some fresh clams on the half shell, and .....



 ...their delicious mixed fish fry and corn on the cob!



If we don't eat in, a few of Nick's large lobsters go home to be cooked!  Whether oiled, broiled, grilled, fresh lobster is a delicious treat! 

What is your favorite way to prepare (or eat) lobster?


There may be a food truck "Lobster War" going on in Manhattan right now, but I'm glad I live in Brooklyn, where I know where to find the best retail lobster in New York City!

 
I'm linking to Michael Lee West's 'Foodie Friday" event of her blog Designs by Gollum. Please check her link to see all the wonderful recipes and foodie treat links in all the blogs participating on Friday!


 
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45 comments:

Judy said...

It looks like you may just have the best seafood around. Who would have known it was National Lobster Day? Out here everything is about hockey today!

Ginny Hartzler said...

I love your pictures!! Nick's has 300 seats, I can't imagine how many stoves and waiters they have to have! Also many years ago, lobsters were very large, some about five feet! They showed a rare blue lobster on the news the other night.

Mister Meatball said...

They oughta take away my (current) Maine citizenship!!!

National Lobster Day?

Nevah hoid of it!

Maria M. Boyer said...

Pat: Every one of your hometown posts makes me wish I lived in Brooklyn. What great places you have in your own backyard. Please keep sharing!

Lynn said...

Happy National Lobster Day! Looks like you have a couple really great places for fresh seafood Pat-enjoy:@)

pam said...

There are many things I LOVE about the Midwest but the fresh food on both coasts makes my mouth water. (c:

aliceinparis said...

Yay for lobster! I had some on Monday. Great way to start the week.
Cheers, Shelagh xo

From the Kitchen said...

My dinner isn't quite so inviting after reading your post. Ah, lobster. Actually, we are heading to S.F. tomorrow. Dungeness crab here I come.

Best,
Bonnie

Old Kitty said...

Happy National Lobster Day!!!

I must look out for this film - Brooklyn Lobster - sounds good - glad Mr Jordan and family are ok! Yay!!

Enjoy your day!! take care
x

Unknown said...

I did enjoy that post Pat. I don't expect to be in New York again but I love to learn new things. I had my first fresh lobster in MA, I think a few years ago. I love lobster but that was shocking since all I ever get in Ky. is lobster tail.
QMM

Barbara F. said...

Oh Pat, you make me miss that darn borough!!! I used to buy lobsters at Jordans all the time, the place was like an insane asylum at Christmas. Next time I go visit my friends in Brooklyn, we are going to try Nick's!! xo,

Loretta a/k/a Mrs. Pom said...

I didn't find out until 6:00 p.m. that it was National Lobster Day! For shame! Although there is no lobster in the house, I am making Greek Style Baked Cod from a Rachel Ray recipe that we all like. So the house is full of the smell of seafood and garlic.

We have offices in Sheepshead Bay and the next time I have to go - going to one of those places!

The Gathering Place said...

Lobster for us is when Red Lobster restaurant has a promotional sale. It all looks delicious!

nanny said...

I want to reserve a table at Nick's!!! It all looks wonderful! My kind of meal! Happy, Happy Lobster Day!

Claudia said...

Oh my! I was thinking it was too hot to visit Brooklyn in August and now I am thinking, lobster! Lobster! Lobster!

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

I am loving that!
That is one of those things that is just to hard to find fresh in Alabama. I'll have my fill the next time I am in Boston!

Catherine said...

I have not had a decent lobster since I moved from New Jersey! This is a great post. Lobsters deserve a day of their own! Yep!

Carol said...

Used to go to Jordan's in Brooklyn years ago, was from Mill Basin, but I don't remember Nick's. And now we go to Jordan's in Island Park. I wish I could celebrate Lobster Day, but I'd need a lot of Benadryl :)

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

Happy Lobster Day to you, Pat! We are far from the east coast but manage to find good lobster for sale here. My favorite way to eat lobster is at our annual gourmet group's lobster boil in September.

Vee said...

It's National Lobster Day and I missed it? Well, that's okay because my favorite way to eat lobster is in a lobster salad sandwich with plenty of good mayo and a lobster dragged through it.

Yes, back in the olden days, people were ashamed to be caught eating lobster. I'm not ashamed; I just don't like the stuff much.

John, on the other hand...

Babs said...

Yay! Lobster and a holiday to celebrate it!! It doesn't get any better than that. Love the photos and wish I had a lobster right now and maybe a little coleslaw. yum...
Thanks for stopping by my blog,
Babs

Pondside said...

Oh yes!...I come from Cape Breton, where we know how to eat lobster!
My favorite way?...it starts at the wharf where I'd wait for the boat and have my pick of the biggest. I'd take it to the boiling pot at the other end of the wharf and have it cooked and then I'd walk on over to the car and take out the paper towels, the nutcracker and pick and the bottle of something chilled. There's always a picnic table nearby and I'd eat my lobster right then and there - no butter, no fancy vegetables, just lobster and more lobster!

GailO said...

Rhode Island is certainly a good place to get lobster too...but when we go to Maine and get some there it is always soooo much better! I don't know why that is true...some say the cold water up there. Love these photos and it makes me pretty sure that some lobster and clams are in order for this weekend!

Betsy Brock said...

Oh, yum! How did I not know? ha. I might just have to make up for lobster day later this week! All of that seafood looks scrumptious, though!

no spring chicken said...

Can you even imagine being so sick of lobster that you wanted eating it limited? I just can't.

Everything looked delicious! Your pictures are wonderful and the post interesting. What a rich history for such a quaint place...

Blessings, Debbie

Lisa@GrandmasBriefs said...

Can you believe I've never had lobster. 'Tis sadly true. My stomach is growling a bit now ... and it's inching up on midnight. Gah! I'll be dreaming of Nick's tonight.

Ciao Chow Linda said...

Oh Pat - You really make me wish I lived in Brooklyn too. I can just imagine sitting outside at that one place eating the lobster. I love how you and your husband have explored every nook and cranny and make the most of every spot in the borough, in the city and everywhere.

Gracie said...

I love lobsters! I still remember how they tasted in my mouth, when a few years back, in Normandy (north France) we had a few roasted on a beach, just out of the sea, with just lemon and/or butter.....sooo good!

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

It looks scrumptious! But the very best place to have lobster, corn and bloody Marys is on the coast of Maine.

Linda said...

I didn't know it was National Lobster Day...we should have gone out...but it's mighty pricey here in the West. We love it though! You are lucky to have those places so close to you.

La said...

Lobster is my very favorite food on earth. Give me a steaming hot lobster and a ton of melted butter and La is a VERY HAPPY GIRL!

Great post!

Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes said...

My knees buckled when I saw "Nat'l Lobster Day" ~ I was ready to go! As you know we spend a lot of time in Maine and I probably have lobster once a week - it's also very inexpensive in Maine.

I notice the clams, have you ever tried Bluepoint oysters? If you ever see them on a menu please try them, they are to die for! I tried them for the 1st time this year with Pushy Sister #4 and I love them!

Boy, I wish we were leaving for Maine tonight . . . now I was a lobstah!

Mary

Kathleen said...

I think Jordan's has a place in Island Park too. It is down the street from my dad's old restaurant on the water, now called Paddy McGees.
I got the filet mignon, you bring the lobster. Butter is on me, literally, I have been known to slop it down the front of me! :)

Tracy said...

YUMMY! I always feel so hungry when I visit your blog, Pat! LOL... today no exception! This really has me craving a lobster roll...mmm... Lobster is a seldom treat here, it is frightfully expensive. Happy Weekend ((HUGS))

Cathy said...

Oh, what I wouldn't give for a big lobster dinner. We don't have it here on the west coast, but have lots of Dungeness crab instead.

Frog Hollow Farm Girl said...

Hello from Frog Hollow Farm in NW New Jersey! Thanks for stopping by my post on my visit to Panicale in Umbria - I'm so glad that you enjoyed reading about our day. I loved reading this post about Brooklyn, and lobsters!!! Yummy - our daughter lives in Brooklyn and we haven't explored that borough very much. Visiting these lobster and seafood restaurants sounds like a perfect weekend! Thanks so much - and I'm your newest follower!! Ciao, bella! xxoo

The Fajdich Times said...

You are so lucky to have such good places to eat LOBSTER! Lobster is my favorite dish and I like it broiled or grilled with lots of lemon and butter. If I can't have Lobster I love Dungeness Crab! I have Lobster tails in my freezer.....waiting for 4th of July. I would love to visit Nick's Seafood. I would sit outside. Your post was great and I did not National Lobster Day was June 15th......I should have eaten Lobster:)

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Boy am I hungry!! Lobster is one of my most favorite foods. Growing up on Long Island, I was introduced to lobster very early. My first fancy lobster was at Trader Vic's in NY when I was 10. One of my favorite movies scenes was in Funny Girl when Nicky Arnstein (Omar Sharif) brings Fanny Brice (Barbra) to a restaurant when she devours multiple lobsters...I think I found it funny because I could easily do the same. This was a fun celebration of lobsters post Pat!

Buttercup said...

This is one of my favorite views into Mill Basin. Alas, I've never stopped for lobster here. I am a great lobster fan. I like lobster salad and probably like lobster just steamed with butter best of all. One of my favorite memories growing up was cooking lobster at the beach in CT after going to the lobster pound in Niantic to get it. I still remember the price -- in 1955 -- of 25 cetns a pound.

Houseelf said...

I love seafood so my mouth was watering at your pics. I hadn't heard of National Lobster Day before now.

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

Pat,
Just the thought of New England lobster makes me want to hop in the car and drive straight to Maine. My favorite way to eat lobster is boiled with lemon anchovy butter for dipping.

Hope you and your family have a wonderful Father's day weekend.
Sam

Anonymous said...

I actually crave lobster & since DH doesn't like it I can have it all!! I think we should start a movement to have the Thanksgiving Turkey replaced with the Thanksgiving Lobster ! ! ! LOL!!
Come on over to my blog as I am having a Southern Belle Giveaway!!
Marilyn

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

uh oh....this REALLY got my attention...NEW ENGLAND !!!!
LOBSTER !!!!! All of my FAVORITE things....looks great...really cute post...i loved all of it....

thanks for the get well wishes, Pat.

i am feeling much better...

Happy to see you at Farmhouse Kitchen...your visit always gives me a smile :-)

have a wonderful weekend, my friend

kary
xx

Anonymous said...

OMG! This is in Brooklyn!? Wow! I gotta get to Brooklyn more often. ;-)

Sarah said...

Pat, I'm late arriving, but glad I didn't miss this post. Lobster is a favorite treat for me, and I rarely have it. ~ Sarah