Every November, Bluewater Boathouse in Coronado kicks off the holiday season with an iconic specialty: baked stuffed Maine lobster. The meal includes unlimited fresh sourdough bread and butter, a choice of New England or Manhattan Clam Chowder, and the lobster with scalloped potatoes, coleslaw, melted butter for dipping the lobster meat, and a lobster bib, all for $34.95. The meal is paired with two hand-picked Sauvingnon Blanc wines.
My husband and I had the chance to try this wonderful meal at Bluewater’s Second Tuesday Tasting on November 15th. To begin, we decided to each try one of the chowders. I chose the New England Clam Chowder and, as usual, found it perfectly flavored with just the right amount of potatoes and clams. My husband, who is lactose intolerant, was glad for the tomato-based Manhattan chowder, and he loved his as well.
We also ordered the first of our two glasses of wine included with the November 15th tasting. I tried the St. Supery Sauvingnon Blanc from Napa Valley, which was fruity and bright with a sweet, mellow finish. My husband started with the Oyster Bay Sauvingnon Blanc from New Zealand, which was drier, not as sweet, and had a crisp, clean finish. Both were an excellent compliment to the heavier starters and sides accompanying the light and delicious lobster.
Afterwards, the lobster itself arrived, tail so long it barely fit on the platter. The lobster claws were intact, and lobster crackers were provided to pull out the sweet meat. The tail had already been opened for us, however, and filled with a delicious mixture of shrimp and buttery panko-crumb stuffing. The lobster with stuffing weighed in at exactly one pound. We loved each delicious bite, and I stole the remainder of my husband’s melted butter to enjoy with mine!
The sides were also good, although they paled in comparison to the lobster. Classic scalloped potatoes were filling and tasty, but I was already full from the clam chowder and buttery lobster, so I didn’t need them. The coleslaw, meanwhile, surprised me. I am not usually a coleslaw person, but this variation tasted almost like a chopped salad, with very little mayo and lots of fresh carrots, cabbage, and cilantro. “Yum,” I thought. After the creamier food, the coleslaw was crisp, fresh, and welcome, just like the wine.
We sat back from the meal, satisfied. Our lobster shells were empty, and now we were the ones who were stuffed. I couldn’t even think about dessert, which is unusual for me — I always go for Bluewater’s delicious key lime pie!
Thankfully for those who missed the November 15 tasting, this lobster meal is available through December 2016. As with all fresh seafood and shellfish, Maine and California Spiny lobsters are subject to availability. The meal includes all the food I described for $34.95, and the wines are available for separate purchase.
“In keeping with Bluewater Grill’s mission to practice 100% responsible harvesting and purchasing, a menu offering involving sustainable Maine lobster is a natural,” explained Bluewater Grill co-founder Jimmy Ulcickas. “The Maine lobster industry is the model of a well-managed fishery — ensuring that both lobster populations and the environment are protected for generations to come. Maine harvesters were environmentally conscious and ‘eco-friendly’ long before it was fashionable. They harvest their lobsters the same careful way they have for over 125 years — by hand, one trap at a time — thus protecting the quality of their product and the marine environment.”
If you are interested in attending other Second Tuesday Tastings at Bluewater, keep an eye on the Coronado Times calendar, as we announce them ahead of time each month. The monthly tasting events, hosted every second Tuesday at all Bluewater Grill, Bluewater Boathouse and Bluewater Avalon locations, feature seasonal seafood specialties paired with hand-selected wines or specialty draught beers. The events have become a popular monthly diversion for neighborhood seafood aficionados and each restaurant’s local fan base.
For menus, locations, hours of operation, phone numbers and other information about the seven unique Bluewater restaurants in Southern California and Arizona, go to www.bluewatergrill.com. You can also follow each restaurant on Facebook, or the Bluewater family on Instagram.
