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National Lobster Newburg Day

Food · March 25

A day for lobster Newburg, the rich dish of lobster in a creamy, sherry-scented sauce, usually spooned over toast or rice.

National Lobster Newburg Day falls on Thursday, March 25, 2027. That is 149 days away.

Lobster Newburg is cooked lobster meat warmed in a sauce of butter, cream and egg yolks, finished with a splash of sherry or brandy. It is often seasoned with a pinch of cayenne or paprika, which gives the pale sauce a faint blush.

The dish belongs to an older style of American restaurant cooking, the kind with white tablecloths and silver chafing dishes. It was once a favorite for tableside service and late suppers. Today it turns up more often at home, on holiday menus, or in the occasional seafood restaurant that keeps a few classics around.

The sauce asks for patience. Egg yolks thicken it, but they curdle if the heat runs too high, so cooks stir it gently over low heat until it coats a spoon. Once it is ready, the lobster goes in just long enough to warm through. Overcooked lobster turns rubbery, and the sauce will not hide it.

Serving it is simple. Toast points are traditional, though puff pastry shells, buttered rice or noodles all work. Some cooks stretch a single lobster by adding shrimp or scallops, which keeps the spirit of the dish and spares the budget. A small portion goes a long way, since the sauce is about as rich as sauces get.

Ways to celebrate

• Try making a small batch of Newburg sauce at home over low heat.
• Serve it over toast points, the traditional way.
• Stretch one lobster tail with shrimp for a cheaper version.
• Look for an old restaurant menu that still lists it.

Dates

Categories: Food days