ROCKLAND, Maine — This week, Rockland is all about lobsters.
From Wednesday to Sunday, countless boiled lobsters, lobster rolls, lobster wraps and lobster Caesar salads will be consumed en masse at the Maine Lobster Festival. But before the last crustacean is dunked into the tank, the last bib tucked under a buttered chin, you’ll have a chance to see how Maine seafood can be spruced up at home in the hands of amateur chefs.
Since the ’70s, the seafood cooking contest has been an interactive part of the lobster fest, said Celia Knight, a festival director. But in the last few years the friendly competition has become “huge in popularity,” in keeping with Food Network-style appetites.
“It has become one of the premier events,” Knight said. “A ton of people apply to get in.”
Five amateur chefs have been chosen from scores of entries to compete for bragging rights and cash prizes on Friday, July 31. From lobster n’ waffles to Baja fish tacos, this is the way to prep your appetite for crustaceans ahead.
All recipes include fish from Maine waters and the live cooking event is expected to attract 150 spectators.
“It’s like watching a food show. The Food Network came last year,” said Knight. “It’s pretty neat.”
This year, sailors from the U.S. Navy’s USS Tortuga and the local Coast Guard will duke it out along with three home chefs from Maine and beyond.
“Recipes this year are extremely good,” said Knight, adding that one contestant is returning for a second try with a newly tweaked take on lobster.
The public can sample creative recipes such as sea bass stuffed with lobster mousse, crustless peaky toe crab and lobster quiche.
This year, Kathleen LaBree, owner of Rockland’s Eclipse restaurant, former lobster chef of the year Kerry Altiero of Cafe Miranda and chef Stefano Corvucci, founder of the Culinary Institute of Bologna, will judge.
The panel will look for “originality, creativity, presentation, appearance and appeal of dish,” said Knight. And that includes table settings.
The most creative use of Maine seafood, while not going overboard, is the key. The crowd gets to sample the lot.
“it’s a good way to whet the appetite” for a day of lobster eating, said Knight.
The seafood contest begins at 9 a.m. Friday, July 31, in the North Entertainment Tent on the festival grounds. Judging begins at 11:30 a.m. Entrance is free with festival admission.
