Parents 40th and 'Surf & Turf Dinner for 40...is it possible? How???

[morelcabin]

I jumped the gun, we're having a party for my parents the last week of June. Well I had no idea what to do...but wanted it to be something special. We're having it at my place on the lake...about 40 guests.
Anyway, yesterday I came across this great special on lobsters. They're precooked frozen whole lobsters. I bought 40 of them, put them in the freezer, and then had the thought...How in the world am I going to serve this to people who will be trying to eat it while sitting on lawn chairs for the most part...
Can I perhaps serve the tails only and alread cracked open...How? Do I open them before I cook them or after? And what would be the easiest way to do this quickly so that ppl aren't waiting forever for thier plates?
Do I boil them or steam them...or would it be better to bake them in the oven with butter already on them????
Please help me out here

Oh I knew I should have stuck to burgers and dogs....

 

[silkiechicken]

Wow big party!

Maybe you should stick to burgers and dogs, turn a few lobsters into a seafood salad and keep the rest for youself!

 

[MaineChickens]

I am qualified for this post! I used to date a lobsterman and have eaten MANY lobsters.

Unless you will have picnic tables you are best serving the beasts either as lobster salad rolls, or "lazy" lobster. Eating a lobster in your lap is not only mess, it can be somewhat dangerous. Since they are pre-cooked, I am betting there are reheating instructions.

Lazy lobster is simply the picked meat, heated in butter, and served in a dish. When I was a kid, that was what they ordered for me.

I don't care for baked lobster unless is is baked stuffed lobster. Baking lobster dries it out a bit and you don't want that!

 

[HR Patterson]

Sorry, had to put that up!!
Will there be any tables availble, i.e. TV trays, or card tables? It shouldn't take long to heat the lobsters since they are precooked. Prehaps try pre-cracking them (do you have 40 nutcrackers avaible?!) NAPKINS, NAPKINS, and MORE NAPKINS!!!!! Maybe try cloth ones from Sam's Club (they won't blow away) and don't forget to give the leftover lobster to the chickens!! (they won't need napkins)
Also, maybe some type of handi-wipes if the restroom is far away.
P.S. nice buy on the lobsters!!!

 

[gumpsgirl]

How fun! Are there any ruritan clubs or volunteer fire depts. around you that you can maybe borrow some tables from? You might also want to try to see if your church or a local church nearby would let you borrow some tables. Some of your invited guests might also have access to borrowing some tables. Another thought would be to rent some tables from a rental company, but borrowing would be much easier on your pocket book!

If you really want to serve the whole lobsters, you will need to get some tables somehow. Good luck with everything! It sounds like it will be a lot of fun once you get your details down.

 

[Standard Hen]

Being a New Englander I agree with MaineChickens. You definately will need tables in order to eat a shelled lobster. You could make a few casserole dishes with the lazymans lobster and put it out on your serving table with whatever else you will be having. Then your guest will only have to scoop some on their plates along with everything else. The only problem is if I were there I would take all the lobster casseroles.

 

[seismic wonder2]

1. thaw overnight IN THE FRIDGE!!!!!!!
2. remove the tails and the claws (I assume they are Main logsters and not Claifornia spiny type)
3. using a large heavy knife split them right down the middle.
4. arrange them cut side up in a sheet pan. (leave in the shell)
6. shell the claws and place the claw meat with the tails.
7. baste with lots of clarified butter, bake in hot oven 350-400deg until hot
(or broil them DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON THEM FOR AN INSTANT!!!)
8. serve immediately.
use the heads and bodies as a table garnish. (or save them for soup etc...)

serve with pasta salad, yeast rolls, petit serloin (medium rare)

 

[morelcabin]

Thank You , Thank You, Thank You for all the wonderful tips and ideas! I CAN do this! I think I have an in on some party tables too! (I never thought of asking my church, but they would be more than happy to lend me a few I'm sure:>)
I am going to serve it a few different ways for different peoples tastes I think, and some won't want to shell so you guys have given me everything I need to know! Anyone ever tell you how wonderful you all are?