Your Information to the Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl

Welcome to the shell-abration – the place lobster is the focus. You may even say it’s the lob-star! Not solely did I eat an unimaginable quantity of lobster the week I used to be on the Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl, however I additionally heard so many lobster puns – it was lobsteriffic!

I traveled to South Shore, Nova Scotia, for every week in February…sure, February—to participate within the Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl competition. The South Shore Lobster fishing season runs from the final week in November to the final week in Could, and the South Shore Lobster Crawl occurs each February.

I’ve loved many summer time highway journeys to Nova Scotia, however this was my first winter go to. It might be chilly in February, however you received’t even discover it with the abundance of enjoyable actions and occasions in the course of the competition. Really, it’s an awesome purpose to eat heat Lobster chowder!

Lobster Love

I’ve an unimaginable love of lobster, so after I heard of this competition, I knew I needed to attend. I really like the time and a focus it’s a must to soak up consuming lobster. Cracking the lobster and coaxing the meat out of the shells slows me down and places me within the current. I just like the problem and tactile expertise of it – I savor the meals extra that manner. The Nova Scotia lobster meat is nice and desires completely nothing with it, for my part, but I’m not one to show down a bit of melted butter!

I’ve traveled throughout Nova Scotia and the Canadian Maritimes for lobster, however I had by no means been there within the winter months – or for a lobster competition!

Winter is a good time to go to Nova Scotia – it’s the low season for tourism, and so they usually have fairly gentle winters. Nevertheless, after I was there, we really did have an enormous storm – leaving the little fishing cities lined in a winter wonderland!

Regardless, touring to Nova Scotia in winter is a good way to flee the summer time crowds and get a way more native really feel for the communities within the low season. Positive – not every part is open at the moment of yr, nevertheless the enjoyment and authenticity of touring within the offseason outweighs that for me each time.

Lobster Fishing Seasons in Nova Scotia

Lobster fishing happens off the coast of Nova Scotia year-round. It’s a ‘provenshell’ factor – Lobster fishing seasons are assigned by province all year long. This permits them to handle and preserve the lobster catch for future generations. And because of this irrespective of if you journey to Nova Scotia, you will get contemporary lobster – even within the winter. It’s lobster season someplace in Nova Scotia!

Lobster season in Southwest Nova Scotia runs from the final week in November to the final week in Could. Lobsters caught on this space (Districts 33 & 34) account for roughly 40% of all lobster caught in Canada yearly.

Why is Nova Scotia Lobster so Scrumptious

The colder the water a lobster lives in, the extra agency and succulent its meat is. As well as, chilly–water lobsters have large claws (versus warm-water lobsters), and their claw meat will also be consumed. It’s typically thought-about to be the most effective meat on a Nova Scotia lobster!

Nova Scotia has an abundance of cold-water lobsters—and that chilly water is what makes them so good. As well as, the South Shore lobster, which is fished from November to Could, experiences the coldest waters of the yr. South Shore lobster is usually probably the most coveted lobster on the earth!

The place to Eat Lobster in Nova Scotia

There are such a lot of locations to eat lobster in Nova Scotia that it’s too many to listing. I’ve made many journeys to Nova Scotia particularly for lobster, and listed below are a number of of my favourite lobster shacks and markets.

Nevertheless, one of the simplest ways to discover a place to take pleasure in a lobster-riffic meal is to take a look at the Nova Scotia Lobster Path. The path brings collectively a group of 25+ eating places, retail, and fisheries experiences that spotlight the lobster! From lobster rolls to lobster tacos, lobster poutine to lobster fondue, lobster dinner at an upscale restaurant to a country lobster boil on the seashore at sundown. Go to the Lobster path stops, acquire stamps, and win prizes!

Lobster Information That Will Shock You

Probably the most stunning factor I discovered on the Lobster Crawl is that a lot of the Nova Scotia lobster is exported. A few of it goes to China…and look forward to it…Maine! That’s proper – 60% of Nova Scotia lobster is exported to the US – primarily Maine!

• Lobsters take 6-8 years to succeed in market weight (~ 1 lb) and are able to residing 100 years.
• Lobsters should molt (shed their shells) to develop. Throughout their first yr, lobsters can molt as many as 10 occasions.
• Lobsters aren’t naturally crimson. They flip crimson when they’re cooked. Usually they’re brown to olive inexperienced in shade however have been recognized to be yellow and even blue!
• A lobster’s enamel are positioned of their abdomen and style with their legs.
• A feminine commercial-sized lobster may carry 8,000 to 10,000 eggs. Solely .01% of these eggs really survive. Fishermen are required to place again any feminine carrying eggs.
• The most important lobster ever recorded was caught in Nova Scotia in 1977 and weighed 44 kilos!
• Lobster moved from poor man’s meals (served in prisons)to some of the coveted items on the earth in a span of 40 years.

Eat Lobster at one among my favourite locations on this 1 day Cabot Path Itinerary!

South Shore Lobster Crawl Pageant

The competition’s hub is Barrington, the Lobster Capitol of Nova Scotia. Nevertheless, the competition has occasions all month lengthy that run from Peggy’s Cove to Barrington. Barrington’s shores are amongst the richest on the earth and lobster has been the financial spine of communities on this space for the reason that 1800’s. It is smart to have a good time the area in its most necessary season.

Secondarily – the Lobster Crawl Pageant is about growing tourism in a usually sluggish time of yr. The Crawl is comparatively new and is rising and altering every year. It’s as if the competition itself molts – getting larger and higher every year! Increasingly companies are collaborating because the competition grows in reputation.

See Lucy the Lobster Predict the Climate

Transfer over Punxsutawney Phil, Lucy the Lobster is poised to take your climate job! At 8 AM on Feb 2nd in Barrington (forward of Phil waking up) we acquired up early to witness Lucy the Lobster come out of the ocean and search for her shadow predicting extra weeks of winter or an early spring. This cute occasion brings out a bunch of locals, information channels, and guests to expertise the morning festivities. The vitality on the occasion is Claw-some! I loved the new chocolate and even acquired my Shell-fie taken with Lucy!

Month of Lobster Crawl Occasions

I really like a superb theme, and the South Shore is unquestionably on ‘lobster theme’ in every part they do in February – it’s spectacular. There are lobster artwork courses, lobster cottages you’ll be able to keep at, lobster meals excursions, lobster trivia nights, lobster cookie adorning, and extra.

Along with Lucy the Lobster’s climate prediction, the large occasions of the month are a few of the meals competitions, such because the Lobster Roll Off and the Lobster Chowder Showdown. Native eating places and cooks compete for bragging rights in South Shore, and everybody wins since you’ll additionally get to strive a few of the entries your self! They promote tickets to the meals occasions and the ticket additionally offers you an opportunity to style a few of the meals too.

Lobster Roll Off

Since I used to be a visitor of Nova Scotia Tourism on this journey, I used to be additionally requested to be one of many judges for the Lobster Roll Off. The thought was that since I used to be an outsider who cherished lobster, I might be neutral—I didn’t know any of the eating places or cooks—or anybody for that matter!

Contemplating I watch an inordinate quantity of High Chef, I felt like I used to be meant for this meals choose function! I summoned my internal Padma Lakshmi and compelled myself to eat 8 completely different lobster rolls, judging them on presentation, style, and WOW issue. It was a tough job…however somebody needed to do it!

I cherished judging the competitors and the entire rolls. The winner for 2024 was the Emerald Mild Restaurant crew from Shelburne. They entered a singular surf and turf combo with lobster meat and steak within the roll. As well as, it had a reasonably large wow issue! I most popular the easier ones with numerous texture and custom, however they had been all nice.

Take a Tour

I’m naturally a curious particular person – so after we took a tour of one of many large lobster-holding amenities, I used to be fascinated! Fisher Direct’s fashionable facility, positioned in Shag Harbour, is fitted with state-of-the-art know-how that enables them to effectively maintain, type, grade, and export dwell lobster to anyplace within the World. I had 1,000,000 questions and cherished studying from the specialists and seeing how the lobsters discover their manner from the ocean flooring to my plate! They provide these excursions throughout February for the competition.

Let’s Eat!

The actual pleasure of the Lobster Crawl competition for me is the possibility to eat lobster! I usually choose my lobster ready steamed with possibly a bit of butter – maintain it easy. Nevertheless, in the course of the competition, I had the chance to strive lobster ready in many various methods and even some new ways in which I had by no means heard of!

Methods to Eat Lobster on the South Shore Nova Scotia

With Beer at Boxing Rock Brewery in Shelburne: Boxing Rock is a social hub of Shelburne. The massive house has a bunch of scrumptious craft beers, and in the course of the crawl, they serve up some scrumptious lobster meals. Strive their chowder and lobster dip and their barrel-aged beer—it was scrumptious. And don’t miss the brand new Shuck Off Lobsteriffic Blonde beer, which is refreshing. Whenever you go, make sure you learn up on the origin of their title…it’s an awesome maritime story!

For Breakfast at Kiwi Café in Chester: Lobster is on the menu year-round! Make sure to strive the scrambled eggs with lobster and freshly baked bread, and spend a while on the cute present store filled with lobster presents.

Expertise the Wow Issue Lobster Roll at Emerald Mild Restaurant: It was the winner for a purpose…it’s scrumptious! However – be sure you save room for dessert. I attempted each one among their desserts…sure – you learn that proper…all of them – and I couldn’t choose a favourite! This cute restaurant is comparatively new and is an ideal addition to Shelburne for some upscale eating.

Go Conventional at Captain Kats in Barrington: You’ll be within the lobster temper as quickly as you stroll into Captain Kats with its maritime décor. Select your lobster contemporary from the tank – however don’t select Lucy! Lucy the lobster really lives within the ‘spa’ at Captain Kats for the remainder of the yr after the climate predictions. This particular restaurant in Barrington was opened to honor a tragic accident within the fishing neighborhood. You possibly can’t get extra native than this.

Strive creamed Lobster on the Salt Banker on Cape Sable Island: This was new to me – creamed lobster sounded a bit bizarre, however what’s to not like about butter, heavy cream, vinegar, and lobster? This dish began as a staple that fishermen would put together on board after they had been out at sea and can be typically served at Christmas time within the area. It’s historically served on toast. It’s wealthy and scrumptious and price each calorie! Observe it up with the Salt Banker’s do-it-yourself ice cream.

Kilted Chef recipe for Conventional Creamed Lobster

Indulge within the Lunenburger on the Grand Banker in Lunenburg: The Grand Banker Bar and Grill is within the coronary heart of historic Lunenburg. That’s the place you’ll discover their signature dish, “The Lunenburger”: 6 ounces of hand-formed contemporary native floor beef, smoked mozzarella, smoked bacon, child spinach, generously topped with Nova Scotia lobster (all knuckle and claw meat), and tarragon butter sauce. Served on a neighborhood artisan bun and picked with a bacon-wrapped scallop! All I can say is – go hungry!

Nova Scotia South Shore Winter Issues to Do

So possibly you’ll be able to’t eat lobster 24/7 – darn. However don’t fear, there are many different issues to do in between meals.

Take a drive round Cape Sable Island and stroll alongside Hawk Seaside. Do some hen watching, or simply watch the waves roll in. Additionally, make sure you cease at a ship harbor on the island (there are a lot of) and take a look at the well-known Cape Islander fishing boats. The boat was designed and constructed on Cape Sable Island in 1907. It has been modified from its unique design through the years to adapt to the present-day necessities of the fisherman, however the hull of the boat has remained mainly the identical.

Go to the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in Birchtown. The museum honors black loyalists who arrived in 1783, making Birchtown the biggest free black settlement in North America at the moment. The historical past there may be beautiful and one thing you hear little or no about usually.

Take a look at Shelburne’s historic waterfront buildings. It’s as if time has stood nonetheless on Dock Avenue. You’ll discover an awesome espresso store, the Dory Museum, and the Museum by the Sea. After I was there, it snowed in a single day, and Dock Avenue was lined in snow and so quiet—I cherished it! It’s simply one more reason to go in winter!

Take a strolling tour of Outdated City Lunenburg. This UNESCO-recognized city was based on shipbuilding. The tour is stuffed with fascinating historical past and 18th-century and Victorian structure. Its colourful properties and church buildings will transport you again in time.

Go to the Fisheries Museum in Lunenburg. That is one among my favourite museums in Nova Scotia. It’s filled with historical past and data on the fishing business. You’ll even have the ability to speak to retired fishermen from the neighborhood to get first-hand tales of the treacherous waters. That is additionally the place the well-known Blue Nostril ship docks.

Go to the lighthouse at Peggy’s Cove. This is among the hottest vacationer spots in the summertime in all of Nova Scotia. Nevertheless, within the winter – we had been the one folks there! It’s a good time to have this iconic vacation spot to your self!

Take a dip on the Hydrothermal Spa at Oceanstone Resort. There’s nothing higher than enjoyable after an enormous lobster meal within the sizzling swimming pools or saunas at Oceanstone Resort! The outside spa has a ‘thermal circuit’ you’ll be able to observe from sauna to chilly plunge pool to sizzling tub that can depart you feeling refreshed and relaxed.

The place to Keep for Lobster Crawl Occasions

Because the Lobster Crawl occasions happen throughout South Shore, I’ve supplied some choices in numerous cities. I counsel a number of days in one among these locations and use it as an anchor…sure…yet one more pun.

Starboard Inn & Portside Lounge – Barrington
Starboard Inn Chalets & Motel is positioned on Nova Scotia’s scenic South Shore within the stunning seaside neighborhood of Barrington Passage. Get pleasure from many close by seashores and ocean views, or stroll the enjoyable path throughout from the Motel to the ocean.

Verify costs and availability for The Starboard Inn | Learn evaluations for The Starboard Inn on Journey Advisor

Loyalist Inn & Suites – Shelburne
Escape the hustle and bustle of on a regular basis life and immerse your self in small-town attraction on the Loyalist Inn. This central location provides a spread of facilities to make your keep as comfy and pleasurable as doable.

Verify costs and availability for The Loyalist Inn | Learn evaluations for The Loyalist Inn on Journey Advisor | Seek for different lodges in Shelburne

The Quarterdeck Beachside Villas & Grill
The Quarterdeck is one among Nova Scotia’s hidden treasures. Centrally positioned on Nova Scotia’s South Shore, the Quarterdeck is only a 1.5-hour drive from Halifax, Yarmouth, and Annapolis Royal. Perched on spectacular Summerville Seaside, a mile from one of many province’s nicest white-sand seashores, the Quarterdeck has been a preferred journey vacation spot for greater than 85 years.

Verify costs and availability for The Quarterdeck Resort | Learn evaluations for The Quarterdeck Resort on Journey Advisor

Lunenburg Arms Lodge and Spa
Nestled within the coronary heart of historic Outdated City Lunenburg on the South Shore area of Nova Scotia, Lunenburg Arms Lodge & Spa lets you savor the sights of the attractive seaside city as you bask in an distinctive rest expertise.

Verify costs and availability for The Lunenburg Arms | Learn evaluations for The Lunenburg Arms on Journey Advisor | Seek for different lodges in Lunenburg

Oceanstone Seaside Resort – Peggy’s Cove
Nestled right into a seaside neighborhood minutes from Peggy’s Cove, you will see that a premier resort vacation spot for relaxation and rest. Keep at their superb inn rooms or cottages excellent for bigger teams. All have a kitchen and nice entry to mountaineering trails. You possibly can even see the ocean out of your window.

Verify costs and availability for the Oceanstone Seaside Resort | Learn evaluations for Oceanstone Seaside Resort on Journey Advisor | Seek for different lodges in Peggy’s Cove

Winter is an ideal time to go to Nova Scotia. It’s simply as stunning within the snow as in the summertime. Not solely will you might have the favored locations, lodges, and eating places to your self, however you’ll additionally get a few of the finest cold-water Nova Scotia contemporary lobster!

Take a look at my winter gear packing listing – it’ll maintain you heat in Nova Scotia winter!

The Lobster Crawl competition lived as much as my expectations in each manner – with each single calorie. And fairly truthfully – I by no means acquired uninterested in consuming lobster. A number of days on the Lobster Crawl competition, and these tasty crustaceans will claw their manner into your coronary heart! It’s an ideal winter foodie trip that is filled with tradition and alternatives to satisfy and work together with locals in a significant manner.

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Disclosure:

I used to be a visitor of South Shore Tourism and Nova Scotia Tourism for this journey.  Nevertheless all lobster love and opinions expressed are mine!