Who doesn’t LOVE lobster? Briny, yet sweet and chewy, we can’t get enough lobster! There are so many ways to enjoy the lovely lobster and in Belize, we know them all. Lobster Season runs from July 1- February 28 and during that time we could eat lobster for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Here’s everything you should know about this beloved crustacean and how you can enjoy the most lovely lobster dishes during your stay on the Placencia Peninsula.
The main difference between our lobsters and their cold-water counterparts is the lack of front claws. The Caribbean spiny lobster has 10 little legs but no large claws like the Maine lobsters you’ll find up north. So, though you’ll see some chefs utilize the head meat, for the most part we are all about the tails. Belize’s warm-water lobsters are one of the fastest growing species and they reach maturity in just two to three years. Protected for a portion of the year, environmental organizations and our own Fisheries Department monitor numbers of wild caught lobster to safeguard this important resource. Lobsters are celebrated at regional festivals across the country throughout July and if you happen to be here during that time you’ll catch cooking competitions, live music performances, and craft markets.
Your stay at Los Porticos wouldn’t be complete without at least one lobster meal. Here are just a few of our favorites and where to find them.
5 Lobster Eggs Benedict
Some say that breakfast is the most important meal, that it sets the tone for the rest of the day, and that may be true. Our favorite breakfast is Lobster Eggs Benedict and best enjoyed mid-morning with a mimosa then followed by a leisurely nap in a swaying hammock. This is a vacation-mode meal! Decadent and rich, a true treat. The Maya Beach Bistro serves our favorite eggs benny with ocean views.
4 Lobster Creole
A regional favorite, Lobster Creole is a dish prepared by stewing meat with tomatoes, onions, garlic, and sweet peppers to create a rich sauce. Typically served alongside herby cilantro rice, this meal really hits the spot without weighing you down. Kick up the heat by adding some Marie Sharp’s hot sauce; she is a staple on any Belizean dining table. Wendy’s Creole Restaurant is our top choice for this classic dish.
3 Lobster Mac and Cheese
Not traditionally a Belizean dish, but who doesn’t love a good lobster macaroni and cheese?! The Bohemian makes theirs with locally made Mennonite cheese, a strong and sharp cheddar. The salty, creamy cheese pairs so well with sweet and chewy lobster meat. A brown, baked crust covering the luscious pasta filling, enjoy it alongside a garden salad and cold Lighthouse beer.
2 Lobster Ceviche
We eat ceviche all year round; while shrimp or conch is great, we like it best with lobster. Finely chopped tomato, cucumber, onion, cilantro and habanero are all cured in fresh lime juice with hunks of clean, chewy lobster. Scoop it up with crunchy, stone-ground corn chips–your taste buds will sing! A snack that satisfies like no other. Bright, light, clean flavors burst from a bowl of ceviche. Enjoy it at the quaint open-air restaurant on the beach, De Tatch, and try one of their fresh tropical juices.
1 Hook and Cook
Our number one, very favorite way to enjoy lobster is perhaps the most simple but arguably the most satisfying- catching and cooking it yourself! Imagine boiling, baking, or broiling your windfall of lobster in Los Porticos’ well-appointed chef’s kitchens then enjoying the delicious dinner on your villa’s patio as the sun slowly sets. We’ll pick this for atmosphere any day over a fancy sit-down restaurant. Who needs mood-music when you have the rhythmic rush of gentle waves and rustling palm fronds?
Book a “hook and cook” excursion with one of Placencia’s many knowledgeable and talented guides; they’ll show you just how it’s done! A few of our favorite fisherfolk are Adrian and Akeem at Cultural Experience Belize, Capt. Dermin Shivers, and Edlin from Placencia Fishing Charters.
