[.ca] Lobster at Home (ISBN 0684800772)

From Amazon.com:
If you are the sort of cook who blanches when fresh, troll-caught king salmon costs more than $8 a pound, you're going to want to own a copy of Boston restaurateur Jasper White's Lobster at Home on the day you tumble for one or two of these shellfish kings in your local market. Lobster may well be relatively inexpensive in some parts of the country, but at anything from $9.99 to $13.99 a pound in cities where the delicious beasts from the deep must be flown in, well, a cook is likely to think twice about the purchase. For about $15, you get four ounces of actual edible lobster. To tread in such waters without an appropriate guide is, at best, foolhardy. Thank goodness for Jasper White. Lobster at Home is the most comprehensive book available on the subject of selecting, cooking, and eating lobster. With this book in hand, you will know how to find and buy the best possible lobster for your money. And then, with a lobster at home scuttling across the kitchen counter, you will know what do with the beast, how to dispatch it, and a world of variations on how to cook it. Knowing what to do is an important issue when half the recipes in the book seem to start out asking for $30 worth of lobster. There are no recipes that call for anything resembling Lobster Helper. White's enthusiasm for lobster is infectious, and his collection of recipes that rely either on lobster meat or broth, or enhance the experience of eating it, are nothing short of delicious. It will probably always remain something of a special-occasion treat for anyone who doesn't grow up in or marry into a lobster-fishing family. The special nature of this food demands the careful and creative handling espoused by Jasper White. If you ever buy and serve lobster, use this book. --Schuyler Ingle

When you demand the BEST.......:
Plenty of top quality books (Peterson's Seafood) have entries on lobster. But none compares to this ultimate guide. Everything I wanted and needed to learn about this food. Don't cook Lobster without it. Be forewarned: adjust steaming time (increase) by 15-20 per cent if you are cooking at high altitude (7,600 feet at our place).

Sumptuous lobster dishes:
This is a very useful cookbook for anyone who isn't quite sure how to tackle lobster. There's a lot of info such as how long to steam your lobster, and how many ounces of meat you're likely to get out of what size of lobster. The book includes recipes that call for lobster meat rather than whole lobsters, so if you're squeamish and don't want to buy whole critters, you can use those tubs of pre-cooked meat instead. The recipes in here are truly inventive and luscious. How about the New England September Soup of Pumpkin, Sweet Corn and Lobster? Maybe Lobster Pizza, or Spaghetti with Lobster, Tomatoes and Capers, or Pappardelle with Lobster, Mushrooms, Shallots, and Cream. The baked stuffed lobster is one of the best recipes in this entire cookbook. We had this dish at Legal Seafood (where author/chef Jasper White has worked), but it wasn't as good as the one in the cookbook - the restaurant's stuffing tasted mostly like cracker, and this one has more to it than that. If you have a strong stomach and don't mind mucking with live lobsters, you can enjoy this cookbook to the fullest. But there are truly very few recipes that you can't make by using pre-cooked lobster meat. Lobster Ravioli, Avocado and Lobster Salad with Toasted Almonds, Warm Green Salad with Lobster, Mineola Oranges & Citrus Vinaigrette, and so on. You'll find appetizers, sandwiches, cold plates, main courses, and even a section on "Great Lobsters from Great Chefs." I'm not a lobster fiend like my husband, but I look forward to every use of this cookbook. Lobster meat may be expensive, but these recipes make a heck of a way to celebrate holidays and other special occasions.

Great recipes, homely book:
I can't disagree with anything the previous reviewers have said; this is a great collection of lobster lore and recipes. However, the production values of this book fall far short of the premise, the cover, and the lobster itself. After you get past the cover, you will find cheap paper, no graphics or photos. It looks like it could be an extension service cookbook typed on a simple typewriter. I would not recommend this as a gift book if you are trying to impress someone.

Covers all aspects of the world of lobster:
Mr. White's book is an excellent resource for everything lobster. He tells you where and how to buy your lobsters (even if you're not lucky enough to live in coastal New England). He talks about how the seasons affect the qaulity, quantity, and price of lobster. And for those who are intimidated by the prospect of eating a lobster (especially in public), Mr. White even includes a section on how to eat them! The recipes include the essential steamed, boiled, or grilled lobsters, as well as salads, chowders, and soups. In addition, Mr. White provides excellent directions and variations for his wonderful Pan-roasted lobster. The book also includes recipes and detailed directions for such classics as Lobster Thermidore and Newburg. This is all around an excellent book, and Mr. White's style makes lobsters much more approachable! A quick note about Mr. Lafleur's comments: Perhaps he has a different "version" of the book (is there more than one version?), but my copy includes full-color pictures of some of the recipes, plus drawings of how to cut up the lobster, lobster anatomy, and various lobster prep/eating tools. I especially like the circular chart describing lobster availability/quality throughout the year.

A must have for a lobsterman:
My husband and I have traps off of New Hampshire and I look forward to the various ways of preparing the lobsters we have during the summer and fall months. I especially liked the broth recipes, since I have so many bodies to dispose of. Since lobster freezes so well, I can enjoy lobster well into winter, thanks to a 21 cubic foot freezer and Mr. White's book.