Lobster Fascination*

[Nifft]

I used to live in Maine, and I used to hate lobster.

Since leaving, it has grown on me. Now I enjoy it.

Go figure.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

We assume this idea comes from the lenten practice of not eating meat on Fridays. Since seafood is acceptable, seafood must not be meat.

My family is largely Catholic, so I know that's an easy mistake to make. According to a Canon lawyer I know, "meat" in the Catholic sense applies only to warm-blooded vertebrates- that's why we can eat things like turtle soup or frog legs during Lent (or if you're old-school pre-Vatican II, on Fridays).

Once, one of my Aunts got into an argument with a customer about the existence of seafood in a food sample when the customer (a Hindu) claimed to be a vegetarian. My Mom agreed with my Aunt.

I took some time to explain to them that they were relying on the Catholic use of the word "vegetarian" (including explanations about vegans, frutarians and other subtypes), not the generally accepted definition, and that my Aunt was in the wrong. My Mom may be convinced...I'm not sure my Aunt is.

Its not stupidity or obstinancy on their part...its trying to wrap your head around a definition that is at odds with something you've lived with your whole life.

 

[awayfarer]

Glad to see I'm not the only one here who feels this way.

 

[ssampier]

Look around the world of today! European/American culture is about the only one that doesn't include a variety of arthropods on the menu. They're quite good for you- high in protiens and low in fats. Watch the Food Network- or better yet, the Travel Channel for a show by Anthony Bourdain or Andrew Zimmern- and you'll see people eating huge beetles, farming termites, gathering grubs, harvesting mosquito eggs, and so forth.

Some even get eaten raw or live...

That's my point. In our Western culture bugs are "icky and gross". Of course, diets can change considerable over hundreds of years. I was pondering which of the flying or crawling critters would be next.

I have avoided those shows since I have a fairly weak stomach. I did watch one show where the host tried to eat a live octopus. He tried and failed, luckily he didn't choke; just a little red in the face and hoarse.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Many people who say they are vegetarian eat seafood. This drives my wife nuts because we'll go someplace and she'll ask about vegetarian food and they'll show her the seafood section. We assume this idea comes from the lenten practice of not eating meat on Fridays. Since seafood is acceptable, seafood must not be meat.

Hey, if a capybara can be a fish, seafood can be a vegetable!

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Lobster can go fudge itself.

My obsession is with shrimp.

 

[James Heard]

Generally I prefer my lobster in a bisque, but that's probably directly proportional to the price around here and the fact that I enjoy crab just as much. On the other hand, a good lobster bisque is a thing completely different from crab or shrimp bisque in my opinion.

Now living around and near swamp country I suppose I could be faulted for not liking crawdads, but honestly we've got so much seafood available around here that I don't feel bad when I'm a little bit picky. I don't like salmon most of the time either, though a friend of mine brought back some salmon jerky from when he was in Alaska that was pretty wonderful.

My great seafood secret is dried cuttlefish. I love the stuff, and I miss living where I could buy it easily at convenience stores. I don't know if this just means I'm into fish jerky in general, but I still salivate over the stuff.

 

[Pbartender]

My family is largely Catholic, so I know that's an easy mistake to make. According to a Canon lawyer I know, "meat" in the Catholic sense applies only to warm-blooded vertebrates- that's why we can eat things like turtle soup or frog legs during Lent (or if you're old-school pre-Vatican II, on Fridays).

It also jibes with Jewish kosher laws, which generally separates food into "meat", "milk" and "everything else" ("pareve"). Fish falls into the "everything else" category along with eggs, fruits, vegetables and grains.

Although, it must be noted that since shellfish of any kind have neither fins nor scales, they are not considered kosher in any event.

Also note, for those talking about arthropods in general, that there are four varieties of locust that are considered kosher.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Not a fan of lobster. I don't care for the taste (what little there is) or the texture, which I can best describe as "squeaky."

I do enjoy the taste of the tomalley (the green stuff, not the roe) but, considering that it is the lobster's liver, and it tends to be full of mercury, it's not the smartest thing to eat.

Now crab... Crab is where it's at. Crab tastes good. It is one of the few foods that passes the Difficulty/Reward test. You know, those foods that taste good, but are too much frakkin' effort to eat? I mean, sure, I like oranges, but I'll be damned if I'll peel one. Oranges don't pass. Shrimp (whole in the shell) barely pass. Pistachios pass. Crab passes.

My one hard and fast gustatory rule is this: Never eat anything that secretes mucus to move.

 

[Aurora]

I am from SoCal and I didn't even see a shrimp in the shell before I was 20. I was with my then boyfriend, now husband out to eat with his parents, and I just stared at the shrimp, and said "there is something wrong with these". *sigh*

Oh, and Wulf, in the winter, try Clementine oranges. They are SOOOO easy to peel. I can peel one in just a couple seconds. Plus, in the dead of winter they are SO nice and sweet. This time of year they aren't very good.