News flash: National Lobster Day is this Sunday. But rather than settling for a mediocre lobster roll somewhere, you should celebrate right with a whole steamed lobster caught fresh from the salty waters of Maine.
We can trace each lobster to where it was pulled out of the water.
Don't have a trip up north planned for the next couple days? No problem. LobstahBox will be happy to ship you a couple live crustaceans, with all the fixings, overnight.
The startup, the brainchild of Annemarie Menelli and Jessica Chang, was conceived in Boston and officially went live this August. The concept? Simple: Ship the best damn live lobster dinner experience straight to your doorstep.
"We wanted to build a brand based on the experience, with Maine lobsters as the core product, holding true to the character and charm of New England," Chang told me. "Our company is different in that we focus thoroughly on the end-to-end customer experience."
From buying to cooking to eating, LobstahBox is designed for minimal effort and maximum reward with a focus on the entire dining experience rather than just receiving lobsters in the mail, a service that's already readily available nationwide. Each box comes with customized cooking sheets catering to what you ordered, be it a couple fresh, writhing lobsters or add-ons like clam chowder, lobster bisque and wild blueberry pie. (All of which, I might add, are also made in Maine.) What's more, custom placemats will tell you how to crack each lobster – a critical step toward enjoying every morsel.
"In just about 11 minutes, a customer will be well on their way to eating lobster," said Chang.
And speaking of the lobster, an emphasis has been placed on providing only the freshest Maine has to offer.
"We want to ensure our customers only experience Maine lobsters, harvested one trap at a time. We choose Maine lobster as opposed to pulling from any other New England state because of Maine's strict sustainability standards, which is better for the customer, better for the environment and all around makes for a tastier lobster," said Chang. "We can even trace back each lobster to where it was pulled out of the water, because of the close relationship we have with our suppliers."
Just to boil all this down for you: When you order LobstahBox, don't expect a couple pink, ready-to-eat lobsters. Oh no. These things will be live, with their eight spiky legs wiggling and two big claws (hopefully securely banded) waving every which way. They will smell like the ocean they were just plucked from. And they'll feel cool to the touch, and maybe a bit slippery. Respect them. Handle them with care. And please drop them in the boiling water head-first. (We're not monsters, after all.)
All that said – and I'd highly recommend opting for the full cook-crack-and-eat experience here – you can go for lobster rolls or meat that's already been prepped for you, too. Right now, four lobster rolls will run you $85, a pound of fresh meat is $75 and a feast of six live lobsters is going for $155.
"The company," said Chang, "focuses on simplicity and is in the business of selling an experience that is fun and memorable."
Images provided.
