Appetizer, Cooking In, Dinner, From a Friend, Quick Post, WebsiteKerry Alaric Cheeseboroalfalfa, Appetizer, broth, butter, cakes, herb, lobster, Lobster Gram, mussels, paprika, prince edward island, Quick Post, saffron, salted, sauce, seafood, smoked, sprouts, thyme, tomato, WebsiteComment

"'Gram" I Am

Appetizer, Cooking In, Dinner, From a Friend, Quick Post, WebsiteKerry Alaric Cheeseboroalfalfa, Appetizer, broth, butter, cakes, herb, lobster, Lobster Gram, mussels, paprika, prince edward island, Quick Post, saffron, salted, sauce, seafood, smoked, sprouts, thyme, tomato, WebsiteComment

MAINE LOBSTER CAKES | Salted Saffron Butter Sauce, Alfalfa Sprouts | PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND MUSSELS | Smoked Paprika Tomato Thyme Broth | lobstergram.com

SO, I HAD A BIRTHDAY recently, and what a wonderful surprise it was to have a dear friend and fellow epicure (and designer) send my a a gift certificate from seafood purveyor website Lobster Gram!

The website sells fresh and frozen seafood—including, of course, LOBSTERS and lobster parts of all divination and sizes—and accompanying culinary accoutrement.

I used the gift certificate to buy, not whole lobster, but their featured Maine lobster cakes (found on the same page as their delicious-looking Maryland crab cakes), and some Prince Edward Island MUSSELS.

They shipped—not cheaply—within a couple of days. I immediately sautéed the lobster cakes in rendered bacon fat and served them over cool alfalfa with a sauce of butter in which I bloomed some saffron I was also gifted that was packed in rock salt as an aromatic infusion. The lobster cakes were very flavorful, with easily discernible minced and larger chopped pieces of sweet lobster "bound" not to tightly with subtle seasoning. My saffron butter sauce added great savory aromatics and pretty color, with the alfalfa sprouts rounded it out with its crisp bite and bright floral notes.

Maine Lobster Cakes

Maine Lobster Cakes

Prince Edward Island Mussels

The PEI mussels came frozen; I cooked them in a broth of tomato water, smoked paprika, and thyme, finishing with fresh arugula. Properly cooked, the mussel shells opened nice and the mussels themselves were flavorful and plump. The only downside is having the ice that encased melt and dilute the flavor of my otherwise smokey, deep broth.

I couldn't be more grateful for this birthday present. It allowed me to not only enjoy two tasty seafood meals, but opened my eyes to the viability of buying fresh, raw, and prepared food online. Hopefully this option becomes a gift to many.

Bun Apple Tea!

KACNYC

MAINE LOBSTER CAKES | Salted Saffron Butter Sauce, Alfalfa Sprouts | PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND MUSSELS | Smoked Paprika Tomato Thyme Broth | lobstergram.com