Over the years, the lobster roll has become one of the most iconic street food dishes in the world. What began as a simple meal for fishermen on the East Coast of the United States is now a classic high-end dish served by both food trucks and fine dining restaurants alike. This delicious sandwich is also rapidly gaining popularity in Europe.
What makes the lobster roll so special? The answer lies in the combination of its simplicity, quality and a storied history.
Birthplace: New England
The lobster roll has its origins in New England, a six-state region in the American Northeast that includes Maine and Connecticut. According to the most widely accepted account, the first lobster roll was served in the late 1920s at Perry’s in Milford, Connecticut. A customer asked for a hot sandwich with lobster. And just like that, a classic was born.
But the origins of this culinary success story go back even further. As early as the nineteenth century, fishermen in Maine were eating lobster in simple dishes, served with bread or salad. The lobster roll as we know it today has evolved from a practical, nutritious meal.
Two styles, one classic
Although the basics remain just that – lobster, bread and a few seasonings – there are two distinct, traditional recipes for the lobster roll:
Connecticut style
Served with warm lobster meat and generously drizzled with melted butter. This creates a rich, pure and intense flavour.
New England style
A fresh variation in which the lobster meat is mixed with a light mayonnaise, often accompanied by celery, lemon wedges and herbs.
Both versions are traditionally served in a typical, elongated ‘split-top bun’, a thick wedge of bread slit open at the top. The bread is then lightly grilled or toasted in butter, so that the sides become crispy whilst the top remains open for the filling. It’s the combination of crispy bread and succulent lobster meat which is the essence of the dish.
Coastal summer icon
In the United States, the lobster roll is a true icon of summer. You’ll mainly find it at ‘seafood shacks’ – no-frills fish stands or casual eateries where freshness, quick service and authentic flavour are hallmarks. Seafood shacks typically serve theirs with crisps, coleslaw or pickles.
The dish embodies a unique blend of the casual and the luxurious: accessible street food featuring a premium ingredient. This appealing combination also explains why the lobster roll is popular not only in the US but worldwide.
Gaining popularity in Europe
The lobster roll is also clearly gaining popularity in Europe. From Paris to Bruges and from Antwerp to London: more and more restaurants are adding this luxurious sandwich to their menus.
It is striking to see how the concept is being further refined in Europe. While the lobster roll remains a simple, no-nonsense dish in the US, in our part of the world it is increasingly being given a gourmet twist. Examples include recipes featuring luxurious brioche buns, sophisticated spice blends or creative variations using local ingredients.
Social media also plays a major role in the luxury street food trend. The visually appealing combination of golden-brown bread and a generous lobster filling creates a premium look, making the lobster roll particularly ‘Instagrammable’ – further fuelling its popularity.
Did you know?
The lobster roll not only has a rich history, it is also chock-full of surprising facts.
From poor man’s food to luxurious delicacy
Long ago, lobster was not a delicacy at all. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, lobsters washed ashore in such vast numbers that they literally piled up on beaches. They were even used as fertiliser or animal feed. In some regions, lobster was served to prisoners so frequently that rules had to be introduced to limit the number of times it was served each week. Today, the contrast could hardly be greater, as lobster has become one of the most prized delicacies on menus worldwide.
Looking for a bit more?
In Maine’s traditional lobster shacks, it’s all about proportions: plenty of lobster, minimal extra filling. It’s not unusual for a single roll to contain over 100 grams of lobster meat.
Are you siding with butter or mayo?
The battle between the warm Connecticut version and the cold New England version shows no sign of cooling. ‘Purists’ swear by butter, whereas many others prefer the freshness of mayonnaise.
From food truck to fine dining
These days, you can find lobster rolls absolutely everywhere: from humble food trucks to Michelin-starred restaurants. Major restaurant chains also feature lobster rolls on their menus from time to time. And you can easily serve a delicious lobster roll to your guests at home. It’s the lobster roll’s versatility that makes the dish unique in the culinary world.
The perfect lobster roll starts with quality
It is precisely because the preparation is so simple that the quality of the ingredients is crucial. The success of a good lobster roll depends entirely on the texture of the lobster meat.
The Pittman Seafoods UHP lobster is particularly suitable for a lobster roll. The Ultra High Pressure (UHP) process makes lobster meat easy to remove from the shell, which means that both the juiciness and the full flavour are optimally preserved. This not only ensures high quality, it also makes it very easy to prepare in the kitchen. A good alternative is cooked lobster meat.
New and classic versions for you to try
For anyone keen to serve their own lobster rolls to guests, here are three refined versions to try: a ‘Garden Style” brioche lobster roll, a ‘Classic New England’ lobster roll and a ‘Tartare Style’ lobster roll.
All versions feature soft brioche bread and flavourfully prepared lobster meat subtly seasoned with fresh lemon and herbs. The resulting lobster rolls balance the casual dining and refined essence of this classic.
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