Have You Had a Lobster Roll Lately?

Pulling Traps 8"x10" oil on canvas panel (Jonesport style boat)

Have you had any lobster lately? We had some great lobster rolls last week at a local lobster shack with plenty of outdoor seating. And the fries were excellent. I love fries with a little of the potato peel showing, so I know they are hand cut. We wore masks and so did the servers. There were lots of picnic tables and Adirondack chairs with arm rests large enough for your dinner, and so plenty of social distancing options. It was a treat to be outside having a great meal that we didn't have to cook!

The Martha Gayle water color

Lobsters and lobster fishing are an iconic part of Maine. I love to eat them, and everything about catching them fascinates me. Lobster boats are to me the prettiest of boats. They come in a range of styles, from the sleek and elegant Jonesport, to the chunky Novi, from Nova Scotia. I think I've seen lobster boat hulls in every possible color. Fun fact: in Maine, each lobster boat must have one of their buoys displayed on the boat (see top image), so that others fishing can see which pots they are pulling.

Diligence 6"x6" oil on canvas panel (fishes out of Freeport)

The last few years the lobster business has boomed, with over 100 million pounds caught in Maine every year since 2011. And prices have risen too. But this year is likely to be a different story with limited restaurant orders, fewer visitors, the supply chain disrupted by the pandemic. Some lobstermen have been selling direct to consumers, but that can't solve the overall problem.

Blue Boat on Stands 8"x10" oil on canvas panel (Novi style boat)

I did a quick survey of local places that sell live lobsters here in Yarmouth, and found prices to vary between $3.95 and $5.95 a pound for 1 - 1.5 pounders. The farther you get off Route 1, the better the price.

The Sternman 16"x20" oil on linen panel

I'm enjoying having restaurant food again, even served outside, or as take out. We focused a lot on food during the stay at home time, and did a lot of good cooking. But it sure is nice to eat out again! I hope you are enjoying it too, and that we can all support our local fishermen and women whether for lobsters or any other bounty from the sea. And local farmers too!