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National Seafood Bisque Day

Food · October 19

A day for seafood bisque, the smooth, creamy soup made from shellfish like lobster, shrimp or crab and their flavorful shells.

National Seafood Bisque Day falls on Tuesday, October 19, 2027. That is 357 days away.

Seafood bisque is a smooth, rich soup made from shellfish. Lobster, shrimp and crab are the usual stars, and the soup is typically finished with cream so it ends up silky and pale orange.

The flavor comes from an unglamorous place. Cooks often simmer the shells, which hold a lot of taste, to build a deep stock before anything else goes in. Aromatics like onion and celery join in, sometimes tomato or a splash of wine, and the whole pot is blended or strained until no lumps remain. A good bisque coats the spoon.

It is a soup that feels like an occasion without asking much of the person eating it. Restaurants near the coast tend to keep one on the menu, and plenty of home cooks make it when a bag of shrimp shells would otherwise go in the trash. A small cup goes a long way, since it is rich.

People usually eat it hot, with crusty bread or oyster crackers alongside. Some like a little sherry stirred in at the table, others a pinch of paprika or chopped chives on top. Leftovers thicken in the fridge overnight and loosen up again with a bit of warm milk or stock.

Ways to celebrate

• Try a cup of bisque at a local seafood restaurant.
• Save shrimp shells to simmer into a simple homemade stock.
• Serve bisque with crusty bread or oyster crackers.
• Compare lobster and crab bisque side by side with a friend.

Dates

All national days on October 19

Also on October 19

• Evaluate Your Life Day
• National New Friends Day

Categories: Food days