FOAS, Thanks for the Wiki link. Us coastal Nutmeggers (the state's official nickname is "Nutmeg State" - don't ask, it's a crazy story) all know about the lobster roll's origination but keep our mouths shut to avoid conflict with Mainers. We just happily eat our lobster rolls dripping in melted butter and try to keep them a secret. lol I had no idea about Amagansett but am not surprised considering its location. I love the eastern end of LI! It's frustratingly close. I can see it but it takes our Nordic Tug about 1-1/2-2 hrs to chug over to Orient Point. Just as well. Sag Harbor, Montauk, etc. would bankrupt us quickly. :) This discussion of lobster rolls has decided our July 4 menu - lobster rolls, CT-style. Sides still to be decided. :) Check out Abbott's Lobster in the Rough's website. It's a fun place. Very common for locals to bring along white tablecloths, candelabras, sterling flatware, the good china, and crystal wine glass in a picnic basket and set up for an Abbott's lobster roll dinner on the picnic tables to watch the boats going thru Mystic channel. Everybody in shorts, tees, and flip flops, of course. Abbott's was voted by About.com, in 2012, as the best place to eat a lobster in New England. Bobby Flay is a frequent visitor also. What can I say? It's good eats, but keep it quiet. The lines are already ridiculous. lol Check out their website - it's fun. /tricia Here is a link that might be useful: Abbott's Lobster in the Rough

What's in the West Indies salad? I went out to lunch today, too--with my two former co-workers from the library. We went to a little restaurant run by two friends. My friends had homemade pierogies (I hope I spelled that correctly) and butternut squash soup, and I had a chicken Caesar salad. The salad was unusual in that the chicken appeared to have been pan-fried rather than broiled before it was cut up. It was good, though!

When getting near home in freezing weather, or an extended stop, operate the windshield wipers to clear the glass - a lot easier to clear them when stuff on them isn't frozen, than scraping after the car sat for a while and it froze on. Maybe brush off the other windows as well - same reason. Also, open the windows an inch or two when a mile or so from home, to let the humid warm air inside the car clear out, rather than settling on the inside of the glass as frost when chilled. On the Prairies, many add several sheets of clear plastic with a foam rubber separater on the various sheets of glass to keep them from getting so badly frosted up that one can't see out at all. Also a good idea to leave the side windows open an inch or so when the car is sitting, to forestall those ice crystals forming on the inside of the glass. (Iva Mae gave me a nice candy/cookie semi-lunch the other day, as a matter of fact ... and she sent it home with me ... so I guess it's I who was/is out to lunch, or half-way so). ole joyful

You can get cold water lobsters any time of year but they are most plentiful (and I think cheapest) in the summer months. Scallops are in season through the winter months-- December until March/April if I remember correctly. We always have scallops for Christmas because they are so fresh and so good then! I would strongly recommend getting fresh/live lobster in order to make your lobster rolls. You can generally get frozen lobster tail anywhere but it's just not going to taste as good as you are remembering! I frequently buy precooked crab meat but I just wouldn't do it with lobster. If I opt to go with presteamed crab and shrimp, it will have been done that day-- the crabs will be fresh. We have plenty of local businesses that will gladly do both. What they won't do is clean the steamed crabs as my dad and grandfather used to do for us when we were growing up. They'd get bushels of crabs, steam then and clean them all out before serving them on the picnic tables. I was an adult before I knew that you have to clean your own crabs!