Lobster is considered a luxurious food: what I would have ordered if I'd known you were paying, and all that. This wasn't always so. Until the early 19th century, the flesh of this rather grotesque crustacean had about as much status as Spam enjoys today. (Here's a good history.) Along with its contemporary status as fancy food, the lobster has become somewhat of a cause célèbre among animal rights activists. Eating lobster appears crueler than consumption of other animals, primarily because the creatures are usually alive, mucking around in a prominently displayed tank, minutes before arriving on a diner's plate. It is also typical that lobsters are boiled alive, which can result in a disquieting "scream," which is actually the sound of trapped air whistling through holes in the shell--think of a boiling teakettle.
Mainly due to lower demand and the resultant surplus, the price of lobster is currently low, so if you enjoy this swanky meat and can't pass up a bargain, now's the time to pick up a few of these beasts. Bigger is not necessarily better, though; chowing down on this geezer would feel like chopping down a Giant Sequoia.
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