Would you eat this?

[Dave the Wave]

This is one lucky lobster! Lives to be 140 years old, gets trapped and then given a reprieve.



140-year-old lobster's tale has a happy ending
NYC eatery set to release 20-pound crustacean dubbed 'George' into wild

NEW YORK - A 140-year-old lobster once destined for a dinner plate received the gift of life Friday from a New York City seafood restaurant.

George, the 20-pound supercentenarian crustacean, was freed by City Crab and Seafood.

"We applaud the folks at City Crab and Seafood for their compassionate decision to allow this noble old-timer to live out his days in freedom and peace," said Ingrid E. Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

PETA spokesman Michael McGraw said the group asked the Park Avenue restaurant to return George to the Atlantic Ocean after a diner saw him at the restaurant, where steamed Maine lobster sells for $27 per pound. George had been caught off Newfoundland, Canada and lived in the tank for about 10 days before his release.

Some scientists estimate lobsters can live to be more than 100 years old. PETA and the restaurant guessed George's age at about 140, using a rule of thumb based on the creature's weight.

He was to be released Saturday near Kennebunkport, Maine, in an area where lobster trapping is forbidden.

[Manuel]

Since George is a senior lobster he deserves a happy retirement.

TM

[Dave the Wave]

Yeah, I had no idea they live that long.

[Dave the Wave]

Interesting Lobster facts from Wikpedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_lobster

[Mean Dean]

George, as will all living creatures, should be left alone in peace.

[Dave the Wave]

Originally Posted by Mean Dean

George, as will all living creatures, should be left alone in peace.

Are you a Vegan?

[rollerdonna]

No! I would run the other way!

donna

[Kuki]

I don't eat anything that comes out of the water!!!

Do you know what people and fish do in there?????

[ToddDH]

I too couldnt' eat George. He certainly deserves his happy retirement! But for all you gastronomes out there, read what follows.

First off, I LOVE lobster! There is a famous, fantastic and expensive restaurant, The Manor in West Orange, New Jersey, that in addition to 'a la carte, has a seafood buffet. The last time we were there was three or four of years ago and it was $65 per person back then (not including the beverage bill) but I'm going again this June come hell or high water.

Everything you see is real, including the crystal. The decor is elegant but but very tasteful to say the least. All the waiters are in Tux's and the attendants at the buffet are chefs. Men dining there must of course, wear jackets, etc. Parking is valet parking. The grounds in the Spring and summer are so beautiful it's like stepping into a movie set. The Manor has won every culinary award imaginable.

Right off the bat I'll tell you that the presentation is nothing less than stunning.

If things are still as they were during our last visit (and earlier ones), as you enter the buffet dining room, the first thing that greets you is an enormous ice sculpture against which is piled hundreds of peeled and deveined JUMBO steamed shrimp. Surrounding the shrimp is fresh "wet" mozzarella, proscuitto, and other sliced italian meat delicacies. Additionally there you'll find stacks of oysters and I believe clams as well, on the half shell.

To the right you will find carving stations including roast pork, roast leg of lamb, prime rib and an enormous bone in steamship round (the whole upper leg of the steer. The beef is medium rare to rare (although they may have more well done is one asks but restaurants of this caliber don't generally serve well done beef). To the left of the buffet are all the potato and vegetable dishes, salads, as well as pastas with every type of Italian sauce or topping or addition (sausage, etc.) you can imagine. On the opposite side past the carving area is the steamed lobster. They have been split down the middle and the claws are separate but available.
The lobster is served with REAL drawn butter.

All hot food is placed in beautiful and enclosed steam servers.

Now for you dessert freaks, the dessert area is as big as a very large living room. Virtually every dessert you can imagine is there. Everything from Italian pastries to every pie you can think of, as well as huge fresh strawberries adjoing an enormous tureen of warm dipping chocolate can be found. Often in the Northeast when one goes into a diner, you see all of these whipped cream cakes that look mouthwatering but when you taste them they often taste like cardboard and the "whipped cream" is anything but. At the Manor, everything you see is REAL. They even have an attendant serving ice cream cake that as it melts, is replaced if necessary (it usually doesn't last that long).

Reservations for the seafood buffet must be made usually weeks in advance, even longer around the holidays. If one wishes to dine 'a la carte in one of several other gorgeous dining venues, I couldn't tell you how expensive that is but I shall say, shrimp cocktails are served in their own individual ice sculptures.

They also do gorgeous weddings but if you ask how much they cost, you can't afford it!

Now, I'm hungry as hell!!!

Todd

[Kuki]

Just think of it this way.... have you ever seen anyone pee on a cow?

[Delft]

Originally Posted by Kuki

Just think of it this way.... have you ever seen anyone pee on a cow?

this one I HAVE TO ANSWER!!!

YES!!!!!

I took in an old Collie, a male, he peed on everything. Darn dog even peed on my poor little Benjamin...........poor little guy stood there with it dripping from his face. So I take him to my mother's at the farm..........and what does he do? He pees on the Llamas, the cows, the pony, the ducks..............

He went THAT MONDAY to the spay neuter clinic...........that took care of that problem!

[thecruisequeen]

George looks pretty good to me!

Hey Todd The Manor seafood buffet is the best omg I love that place. Have not been there in a few years I wonder what there are charging these days for the buffet?? But it is worth every penny.

[Dave the Wave]

Originally Posted by thecruisequeen

George looks pretty good to me!

I know where the second YES vote came from...

[TravelMike]

You finished me off when you gave it a name. My brothers name is George. You should never name food. The name takes it to another level. M

[Mike M]

Originally Posted by The Cruisequeen

Hey Todd The Manor seafood buffet is the best omg I love that place. Have not been there in a few years I wonder what there are charging these days for the buffet?? But it is worth every penny.

The lobster buffet runs: Wednesday - Saturday. $46 for Wednesday and Thursday and $56 for Friday and Saturday. Actually, not a bad price if it's as good as Todd says.

Take care,
Mike

[ToddDH]

Thanks Mike. It hasn't gone up much, if at all! We went on a weekend so that was probably the price with tax (not tip because I overtip, usually in the neighborhood of 25%).

What I would recommend, if you're really not sure and you are or are going to be in the area, make a reservation and show up. In the grand hall, start reading the culinary awards as you await entry (times are fixed). If after all that you have reservations, then just cancel. Got a feeling few if any will do so, however.

Todd

[mehawk]

I would not have released him. I would have placed him in a place of honor at the restaurant and used him as a showpiece. He still would have a longer life that way.

[Mean Dean]

Dave,

Not a vegan, just a run-of-the-mill vegetarian. Don't eat anything with a face or a family.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Mean Dean

Dave,

Not a vegan, just a run-of-the-mill vegetarian. Don't eat anything with a face or a family.

[Mean Dean]

Good one, Marc!

[Trip]

Isn't this the one Mary Tyler Moore tried to free years ago?

[beenie weenie]

Todd I will be in New Jersey in October, I think I may have to go visit this place. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. This sounds like one of those places where you virtually starve yourself all day so you have room to try everything when you get there. Wanna come along? I'm thinking October 29th. While you're there, you and Fran can join us on our 14 day NCL Jewel cruise.

[ToddDH]

Would absolutely love to but won't be able as we're sailing on Explorer of the Seas on 11 June on it's 9 night Bermuda/Eastern Caribbean run. Possibly you'll be able to cruise on that one as well? If not, we are determined to come to Indianapolis to visit close friends in the Spring. Maybe we can get together as a consolation prize at an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet that serves crab legs.

Todd

[beenie weenie]

Todd I would love to join you for AYCE Chinese Food, crablegs or not !!!

That sounds wonderful!

[msblackjack]

Originally Posted by Marc

; too funny Marc!

Now Kuki I have seen someone pee on a cow; but it was just that one tiem and they were really really drunk (just joking)

I would let him go; things get Tough and stringy with age

[Dave the Wave]

Originally Posted by mehawk

I would not have released him. I would have placed him in a place of honor at the restaurant and used him as a showpiece. He still would have a longer life that way.

Apparently he had been living in a tank at the restaurant for 10 years already. I saw on TV when they released him back into the sea. I hope he remembers how to find food.

[DougR.]

Originally Posted by Mean Dean

Dave,

Not a vegan, just a run-of-the-mill vegetarian. Don't eat anything with a face or a family.

In science all plants have a family

[beentravelin]

The largest lobster on record, according to the 1998 Guinness Book of World Records, is 44 pounds, 6 ounces, 3 feet 6 inches from the end of tail fan to tip of largest claw.

[Dave the Wave]

Originally Posted by beentravelin

The largest lobster on record, according to the 1998 Guinness Book of World Records, is 44 pounds, 6 ounces, 3 feet 6 inches from the end of tail fan to tip of largest claw.

That one must be really old!