Lobsterfest, a popular promotion put on by U.S. seafood restaurant franchise Red Lobster, launched once more on 29 January with a series of new lobster dishes.
Available for a limited time, the 2018 Lobsterfest menu includes four new entrees as well as some of the restaurant’s much-loved lobster dishes such as the “Lobster Lover’s Dream,” which features roasted rock lobster tail and split Maine lobster tail alongside a lobster and shrimp linguini alfredo, and the “Ultimate Feast,” which boasts Maine lobster tail, steamed wild-caught North American snow crab legs and garlic shrimp scampi.
The new entrees created for this year’s Lobsterfest promotion feature lobster prepared and paired in a variety of ways. These new dishes include:
- Dueling Lobster Tails: Maine lobster tail steamed in parchment paper with fresh herbs, tomatoes, and lemon, paired with a grilled Maine lobster tail topped with shrimp, bay scallops and roasted bell peppers in a rich sherry lobster cream.
- Lobster Truffle Mac and Cheese: Maine and langostino lobster tossed with cavatappi pasta in a cheesy truffle lobster cream, topped with house-made toasted Parmesan panko crumbs.
- Stuffed Tilapia with Langostino Lobster: Fresh tilapia roasted with Red Lobster's signature seafood stuffing and topped with langostino lobster in a creamy lobster beurre blanc.
- Lobsterfest Surf & Turf: Tender Maine lobster tail, paired with guests' choice of a wood-grilled sirloin, New York strip or filet mignon, topped with a langostino and Maine lobster beurre blanc.
Red Lobster looks to serve its customers more lobster than any other time of year during Lobsterfest, according to Dustin Hilinski, executive chef and director of culinary at Red Lobster.
"During Lobsterfest, we're proud to offer our guests more lobster than any other time of year, prepared in exciting new ways, like our Maine Lobster tail on a bed of wild rice, herb butter and fresh tomatoes, wrapped in parchment and baked to naturally steam and lock in all the great flavors," Hilinski said. "We've also added truffle, one of my favorite ingredients, to this year's line-up, which pairs perfectly with lobster to create a rich, indulgent flavor combination for our Lobster Truffle Mac and Cheese."
More classic lobster dishes, including “Seaport Lobster and Shrimp,” “Wood-Grilled Lobster, Shrimp and Salmon,” and the “Bar Harbor Lobster Bake,” are also available during the Lobsterfest event, which has no official end date, but will continue for a few months, according to Business Insider.
“All the seafood served at Red Lobster, which includes lobster, is sourced in a manner that is traceable, sustainable, and responsible to ensure a healthy seafood supply exists now and for generations,” the restaurant said of its sourcing policy in a news release.