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!
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!
