lobster

On Christmas Eve it's customary for Italians to consume seafood for dinner; they enjoy course after course of rich fish items. Although my family has Irish origins, I thought it would be fun to plan an Italian-style Christmas Eve — this year we'll be eating seven delicious seafood dishes. To get the party started we'll have raw oysters and cold, marinated anchovies waiting for the guests. Once a group has arrived, the hot appetizers will be set out. Spicy seared scallops are a delightful bite and slices of clam pizza are crisp and salty.

At the dining table a tuna and white bean salad will be served, followed by a silky shrimp bisque. The meal finishes with a velvety lobster pasta with cream sauce. Doesn't it sound to die for? Look at these recipes when you read more

The cost of Maine lobster, which accounts for 80 percent of lobsters in America, has plummeted. What may be a bargain for some has left others in a snag: Lobstermen and northeastern fishing communities, hit hard by the price drop, are struggling to survive.There are a couple of reasons for this price drop. The budget conscious are consuming less of the luxury seafood item. Also, Canadian processors, which buy more than half of Maine's lobster harvest, have been short on credit as many were tied to failing Icelandic banks. This has left Maine with a surplus of lobsters.

"This is as devastating to the state of Maine as Hurricane Katrina washing away all the boats and blowing down all the wharves," says Dana Rice, a lobster dealer who's been in the business for more than 30 years. Many villages are coming together to better the situation. One held a lobster bake on the town pier to get rid of its lobster surplus.

After hearing about the drop in Parmesan cheese prices, are you surprised to learn of the lobster crisis? If you've eaten lobster recently, have you noticed a dramatic price difference?

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This week, spice up your free time with the chili cook-offs that are setting the country aflame. Whether you're looking for an epicurean adventure at the Bellagio, or something more along the lines of a back-country roadkill cook-off, you're in luck. Check out what's going on in your neck of the woods this week, and let us know if we've left anything off the list!

• Sante Fe, NM: Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta — Sept. 24-28
• Las Vegas, NV: Gourmet's Taste of Bellagio — Sept. 25
• New York, NY: Joy of Sake New York — Sept. 25
• Providence, RI: Food for Thought — Sept. 25
• London, KY: World Chicken Festival — Sept. 25-28

To see the rest, read more

In the height of good weather, food and festivity abound, and right about now, I'm wishing I could teleport myself around the United States. First I'd hit up Manhattan for Wine 2.0's wine sampling this week, followed by the Shrimp & Grits Festival in Georgia, and then some classic Eli's cheesecake in the Windy City. Don't miss out on these events — if you do, you'll have to wait another year!

• New York, NY: The StarChefs Rising Stars Revue New York — Sept. 16
• New York, NY: Epicurious Wine.Dine.Donate New York — Sept. 17
• New York, NY: Wine 2.0 New York — Sept. 18
• Atlantic City, NJ: Celebrity Chef Tour Atlantic City — Sept. 18
• Shawnee-on-Delaware, PA: Delaware River Food & Wine Festival — Sept. 18-21
• Nappanee, IN: Nappanee Apple Festival — Sept. 18-21
• La Crescent, MN: Applefest 08 — Sept. 18-21
• Leavenworth, WA: Wenatchee River Salmon Festival — Sept. 18-21

To see the rest, read more

Fresh lobster with its sweet, succulent meat, is the quintessential Summer dish. Whether you're new to cooking lobster or a seasoned expert, this shellfish is an opulent meal for alfresco entertaining. If you're a beginner, simply grill the store-bought tails for an impressive meal. Ready for something more challenging? The expert meal calls for cooking live lobsters and serving them alongside simple, elegant sauces. To get both recipes, read more

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If you want to work more seafood into your diet, why don't you start with this gorgeous Lobster Mac 'n Cheese? — Jaden's Steamy Kitchen