Fairytale Fantasy – Lobster Heaven

Last night I decided to treat myself to a lobster tail, photographed below. This jumbo tail is from the family restaurant, the Gramercy (or the “G” as we like to call it) and was every bit as juicy, buttery, and delightful as it looked. 


Accompanying the lobster, I chose to have another one of my favorite dishes, a simple side of freshly cut french fries – served hot, of course, and sprinkled with coarse salt.

While eating this divine seafood dish, my mind was transported to a warmer place and suddenly it was summer again. Indeed, for a moment it was not January and my body felt the breeze of a seaside wind rather than the chill of the frigid air.  As I tasted the first bite of my lobster, in my mind, I imagined I was free of this bitter winter.  Gone were my bulky winter sweater and staple furry Uggs, both having been replaced by a simple dress and sandal. My lobster gave me the freedom to remember how it feels under the sun when your blood boils and races through your veins in eager anticipation of the perfect summer seafood. I was free and I was in my glory. 


My lobster magically took me away to a place where the tables were not dressed in linens nor winter flowers but instead covered by large disposable pieces of thick brown paper which was dramatically overshadowed by a mess of empty lobster, clam and crab shells and spewed melted butter and french fry grease. The air smelled of the salt water, seafood, fresh limes, and beer. The sound of other patrons roaring with laughter and smashing their tables with king crab hammers couldn’t drown out the band playing covers of Jimmy Buffet and Kenny Chesney, which made them even livelier.  And the seafood was there, at the center of it all, like the matriarch of a family bringing everyone together.

With every bite of my lobster, I tasted salt water and felt the ocean wind stinging face, my hair wildly blowing in the wind as I tried to grab hold of my fleeting napkin. The winter had faded from my reality. I laughed and I smiled and I carefully savored each bite.  “Make it last,” I said to myself for throughout each bite I was in a tropical heaven. I was in a fairytale.

Enjoy. 🙂