Name: Maine Lobster Bisque (Portland style)
Prep time: 1 h
Total time: 2 h
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 live Maine lobsters (about 600g each; or use 500g cooked lobster meat plus 400g shells); 4 tbsp unsalted butter (divided); 1 large yellow onion, diced; 2 carrots, diced; 2 celery stalks, diced; 1 small fennel bulb, diced; 4 garlic cloves, smashed; 3 tbsp tomato paste; 60ml dry sherry (Amontillado); 60ml brandy or cognac; 200ml dry white wine; 1.5L hot water plus 1 fish bouillon cube (or use 1.5L homemade fish stock); 2 bay leaves; 1 tsp dried tarragon plus 1 small bunch fresh tarragon; 1/2 tsp white peppercorns; Pinch of cayenne; 60g long-grain white rice (the classic French bisque thickener); 250ml heavy cream (35 percent); Sea salt to taste; 1 tbsp lemon juice; Garnish: 2 tbsp olive oil blended with 2 tbsp fresh tarragon leaves (tarragon oil), 1 tsp finely chopped chives, paprika for dusting

A velvety cream soup built from a roasted lobster-shell stock, sweet Maine lobster meat, sherry, brandy, butter and cream, finished with a swirl of tarragon oil and chunks of claw meat.

Maine lobster bisque grew out of French restaurant kitchens of the late 19th century, when American chefs adapted the French bisque format (a strained shellfish soup thickened with rice and enriched with cream) to use Maine lobster instead of the smaller Atlantic prawns or langoustines. Portland's high-end seafood restaurants codified the modern version: Fore Street, J's Oyster Bar, and the Eventide Oyster Co. all run versions. The Portland version typically includes a tablespoon of brandy and a smaller pour of sherry; the cream is usually heavy (35 percent), and the surface gets a final crown of tarragon oil and claw meat. The canonical winter Maine lobster preparation.

4 editor picks for Maine Lobster Bisque in Portland, ranked by editorial score. All Portland signature dishes · Maine Lobster Bisque across every city.

Eventide Oyster Co ★ 4.9

Seafood

india-street · 86 Middle Street, Portland, ME 04101

Eventide Oyster Co on Middle Street opened 2012 from Big Tree Hospitality, rebuilding the Maine oyster bar around a brown-butter lobster roll on a bao.

Fore Street ★ 4.8

New American

old-port · 288 Fore Street, Portland, ME 04101

Fore Street opened 1996 in a converted Old Port warehouse and built modern New England cooking around a wood oven, open hearth and turning spit.

Scales ★ 4.5

New England Seafood

old-port · 68 Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04101

Scales on Maine Wharf opened March 2016 from Sam Hayward, Dana Street and Victor Leon (the Fore Street team) with whole local fish, oysters and a raw bar.

Boone's Fish House + Oyster Room ★ 4.3

New England Seafood

old-port · 6 Custom House Wharf, Portland, ME 04101

Boone's Fish House on Custom House Wharf reopened 2014 on the site of the 1898 original, with Maine lobster rolls, halibut and fish chowder on the deck.

Learn to cook it, or eat it with a guide

Maine Lobster Bisque makes more sense with someone from Portland explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.

Taste Maine Lobster Bisque with a local in Portland

Portland, Maine: Local Brewery Tour

This dishGuided tour3 hours4.7 from 21 reviewsfrom $109

Dive deep into the local brewing scene on this tasting tour to three local breweries in and around Portland, Maine. Choose from a variety of unique tour options to sui...

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Portland, Maine: Old Port Brewery & Pub Walking Tour

This dishGuided tour2.5 hours4.5 from 18 reviewsfrom $99

The Portland Pub Walk is a leisurely 3-stop, 1 mile stroll through Portland’s Old Port. This is a journey through Maine's unique history with Portland's finest beer in hand.

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