Maine Lobster Week rolls out red carpet for foodies

Photos / Courtesy of Maine Restaurant Week Maine Lobster Week, taking place from Sept. 24-30, will feature dishes from restaurants including David's in Portland and Natalie's at Camden Harbour Inn.

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By Renee Cordes

Everything's coming up crustaceans for Maine Lobster Week, with planned dishes spanning Sicilian-style couscous with lobster, at Nina June in Rockport, to lobster rolls, salad, bisque and dip at SoPo Seafood.

The event, in its third edition this year, will run from Sept. 24-30. It was created by Gillian and Jim Britt, owners of public relations firm gBritt PR and the team behind Maine Restaurant Week every March.

For Maine Lobster Week, gBritt PR teamed up with the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative to turn National Lobster Day (Sept. 25) into a week-long celebration.

"The Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative reached out to me to see what I thought about creating a week dedicated to lobster, following the format of Maine Restaurant Week," Gillian Britt, who is also executive editor of Eat Drink Lucky newsletter, told Mainebiz.

"It was a natural fit. Lobstering is an important Maine industry, and lobster can be prepared in so many delicious dishes."

Noting that each year has been different, she said Maine Lobster Week highlights lobster shacks and fine-dining destinations serving lobster rolls, specials and multicourse menus, all of which are listed and easily searchable on the event website. (See link below.)

"This year we have Rodney's at 436 Main St. in Presque Isle, Tides Beach Club in Kennebunkport and lots of spots in between, including in Portland and up the coast in Rockland and Camden, and on to Bangor, too,” she added.

Lobster's 'high season'

As of Thursday, more than 50 establishments had signed on to participate, including one in Lubec, in Washington County near the Canadian border.

"I expect to see more added this week," Britt said. "I've heard from quite a few who are planning to participate."

Marianne LaCroix, executive director of the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative, told Mainebiz that Maine Lobster Week gives chefs a chance to showcase traditional lobster dishes and innovative new recipes, with promotional support to help drive traffic into the restaurants.

File photo

Marianne LaCroix

“The fall is still the high season for the lobster harvest, and Maine Lobster Week helps to remind consumers that it’s a great time to enjoy their favorite crustacean,” she said.

Noting that the number of participating restaurants increases every year, she added that "this indicates that the restaurants find value in the promotion.”

Separate from Maine Lobster Week, some members of the Maine Marketing Collaborative plan to commemorate National Lobster Day on Sunday with promotions and discounts.

Mayo and more

While not all eateries in the Maine Lobster Week lineup have posted planned menu or dish specials, Britt remarked on the variety of rolls and deals.

Lobster rolls on offer range from the traditional warm with butter or the "classic Maine, cold with Hellman's mayo," at Johnny Shucks Maine Lobster in Old Orchard Beach for a $24 BOGO deal, to an ooh-la-la "beurre noisette" (brown butter) lobster roll with truffle fries at Natalie's at Camden Harbour Inn for $57. That's available at the bar, while the restaurant will serve a five-course Maine lobster tasting menu that kicks off with a lobster claw served with kelp lime fish sauce.

The full dinner costs $167, plus another $87 with wine pairing.

Maine Lobster Week isn't just for in-person dining, since the festival website also offers options to ship lobster nationwide from Get Maine Lobster, Hancock Gourmet, Luke's Lobster and Harbor Fish Market.

"This way you can share the lobster love nationally, or get it delivered to you in Maine of course," Britt said.