Hancock Gourmet Lobster: Lobster Ciabatta

If you live in New England, then you probably enjoy lobster. There is no real competition for a Maine lobster, especially not those spiny varieties found in warmer waters. Yes, it can be pricey, but often is worth the added cost to savor the sweet meat. Those who live outside of New England may not often get the chance to taste Maine lobster, but they do have options.

The Hancock Gourmet Lobster Company, working out of Cundy's Harbor in Maine, sells a wide variety of lobster and seafood dishes, often frozen and available for shipping throughout the U.S. You'll find items such as lobster risotto, lobster pot pies, Maine crab cakes, lobster mac & cheese, oyster stew and much more.

Their history extends back to 1946 when Hazel Ellis Hancock started a lobster restaurant in Ogunquit, Maine. The restaurant is still in operation, and Hazel's children and grandchildren were immersed in that world. One of her grandchildren, Cal Hancock eventually decided to get into a similar busness and opened Hancock Gourmet Lobster Company in December 2000. Cal and her team currently work out of a test kitchen in Cundy's Harbor and there is a production and fulfillment facility in nearby Topsham, Maine.

Hancock only use all-natural ingredients and does not use any preservatives or colorings. Whenever possible, they use local ingredients and their products are made in small batches, prepared daily. They also use only the freshest, highest quality Maine lobster caught by Maine lobstermen in support of the eco-friendly Maine lobster industry.

I was sent a sample of one of their newest products, Warm Lobster Ciabatta ($38). This package contains two sandwiches which consist of Maine lobster claw and knuckle meat with lemon herb butter in a hearty ciabatta roll. You just heat the sandwiches when you are ready to eat them. For me, this is the type of lobster sandwich I prefer, which uses butter rather than mayonnaise, so I was excited to try it.

The sandwich, which was simple to prepare, contained an ample amount of sweet lobster, certainly more than I expected. I very much enjoyed the simple buttery sauce which was seasoned appropriately. It was a fairly good-sized sandwich and the bread was hearty and soft. I was impressed with its quality, and would have no problem serving it to guests, who might even think I made it myself. It certainly did not look like a frozen concoction.

If this is the quality of the rest of their products, then they would be well worth ordering. Some may find it pricey, at $19 per sandwich, but remember that this is lobster, and similar lobster sandwiches at restaurants are not cheap either. For those who cannot stop by a local place and buy a lobster sandwich, this is a good option.

As a special reward for my readers, you can receive a 10% discount off your orders with Hancock Gourmet Lobster. Just use promo code 'TPF' (no quotes) at the checkout. But note that this offer is only good until June 6, 2010.

Hancock Gourmet Lobster Company
104 Taylor Road
Harpswell, ME
Phone: 866-266-1700