Enjoying a delicious dinner of fresh shellfish is a pleasure that nobody should miss. It is easiest to do this, of course, if you live on the coast or nearby. However, if you live inland and don't have good access to seafood, there may be a specialty shop or a restaurant in your area that can sell you fish that were flown in that day. Of course the best place to get fresh seafood is from a reputable online vendor. With the introduction of overnight delivery from Fedex to the continental US, there is absolutely no reason for you not to enjoy a fresh seafood meal on a regular basis. Frozen fish is a poor substitute.



Lobster is certainly the king of seafood. The first one which decided to try and eat one must have had courage. In fact, they were not popular for a long time. Did you know that what to us is a pricey delicacy was once the food of commoners? It's true; however, that piece of trivia will probably be small comfort when you're shelling out $11.95 a pound in stores or $29.95 in a restaurant. Often times ordering online is the best way to ensure you are getting the freshest lobster possible. After all, even if your in the Arizona desert, this way you can order it directly from a coastal area and have it shipped to you.

To prepare lobster at home, you buy one per person, alive and kicking at your fishmonger or seafood counter, bringing them home in a bag. Do not put them in fresh water; people often do, but it will kill them. Just close the bag well and keep it in the refrigerator. Plan to eat them that evening; they don't really keep.

Here's the tough part. Each lobster, sadly, will have to give its life for your meal, and you are the one who has to make it happen. To do it humanely, you can drop them into water that is at a violent rolling boil, or you can put them out of their misery first by inserting the point of a knife briskly between the head and the body, which kills them instantly. If you choose the second option, they can be steamed in less water. You can also grill them.

Prepare your lobster with butter and lemon, grab a bib and jump right in. The shell is filled with yummy nuggets of meat. You can also eat the green tomalley or red roe found in the body, gourmets love it.

This type of ocean-based meal doesn't need limit itself to lobster, of course. What about trying some fresh shellfish like mussels (just scrub them well and steam them in water, wine or broth)? What about steamer clams, which you steam and then dip in clam broth to wash any remaining sand from the beach? Oysters are popular fried, baked, and even raw. And then there's shrimp, langoustines, crayfish? To enjoy the gift of the sea, these are all delicious ways.

The great thing about seafood is you don't have to be a super duper cook or anything. Out of all the different ways to prepare a seafood meal, you can always find one that fits perfectly with your skill level in the kitchen. Just seafood all by itself tasted great, even if you just boil or steam it.

If all these kinds of seafood are still a bit daunting, there's another choice for the faint of heart. You can always go to the soup aisle and purchase some clam chowder. Fresh fish is better, but you'll at least get the true briny taste of the ocean. Serve it with oyster crackers, perhaps an extra dash of cream, and lots of ground black pepper. Then, pretend you're on the beach.

Good times and great food go hand in hand. A lobster and shellfish taste adventure is no exception to the rule. When throwing an extravagant meal such as this, everyone invited will be very impressed. Whether it is just your friends that attend, or your family members too, they will all have fond memories of the seafood feast enjoyed on that occasion. Just the thought of it will bring warm and soothing feelings to all involved. It will truly be a historical event.