Summer is here and it’s time for the season’s favorite foods including lobster rolls! The most known lobster roll is the “New England Style Lobster Roll” which originates from Maine. Did you know that the sandwich actually comes from Connecticut and there is no mayo in it at all? Discover the differences and learn the history of one of summer’s favorite dishes:
The lobster roll first was created in Milford, Connecticut in 1926. This style of sandwich consists of hot, buttered lobster meat in a toasted hotdog bun.
The winning factors in this sandwich are the warmth and purity of the lobster. The heat enhances the flavor of the naturally sweet lobster meat while the simple coating of melted butter further pronounces the lobster flavor. Plus, because of the temperature, you can enjoy this sandwich beyond the summer months and well into winter as a warm comfort meal.
Connecticut-style is harder to find outside of the state. So if you find yourself in the area, you must seek out this style of the lobster roll.
The Maine style developed after the creation of the Connecticut-stye sandwich. This version popularized in New England later spread across the rest of the US, and today has spread all around the world. When one thinks of a lobster roll, they typically envision this Maine, or New England, style.
The Maine version consists of a hotdog bun filled with cold, cooked lobster that is seasoned with salt and pepper and dressed in a coating of light mayonnaise. Sometimes, celery is added, but any more than that and it becomes a lobster salad sandwich.
Fans of this sandwich can get enough of the contrasting temperatures of the cold filling and hot bread as well as the creaminess from the filling. And because of the refreshing cold, naturally sweet lobster, this Maine-style sandwich is one of the summer’s favorite foods.
Ultimately, the winning lobster roll is truly a personal preference. Some love the cold, mayonnaise coating of the Maine-style while others advocate for the warm, clean, comfort of the Connecticut-style. Which camp are you on? Team Maine or Team Connecticut?
Disclaimer: This article is graciously sponsored by LobsterAnywhere. All opinions, as always, are my own.
Originally posted June 15, 2020
Updated September 5, 2022
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