Venus de Milo Gourmet Lobster Bisque

Source: From the Award Winning Venus de Milo Restaurant - msnhomepages.talkcity.com

This recipe is a variation of our famous Lobster Bisque which is a weekend specialty of the house in our Ala Carte Dining Room and a popular item at our online store. Venus de Milo Lobster Bisque is by far the best in New England, and quite possibly the best in the country. The Venus de Milo Restaurant is acclaimed throughout New England for its fabulous award winning seafood dishes and especially for its Baked Stuffed Lobsters. Our Stuffed Lobsters have been praised by food critics, chefs and customers from all over America.

Bisque is a shellfish based cream soup. Bisque differs from chowder or a stew in that bisque is smooth and usually strained where-as chowder will contain diced vegetables as well as chunks of meat or seafood. Generally bisque is made from a highly concentrated stock and is very rich in flavor. All cream soups are ruined with boiling so take special care while handling this soup.

Preparation Time: Approx. 90 minutes

Servings: About a half gallon or 8 servings

2 pound live lobster cull
1/4 pound butter
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup chopped onions
3/4 cup tomato puree
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 cubes chicken bouillon
8 peppercorns
3 ribs of celery
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon Lea & Perrins
1 tablespoon A1 Steak Sauce
1 pint light cream

In a large stockpot, combine chopped onions, celery stalks, peppercorns, bouillon cubes, and salt with 1 gallon of cold water and bring the water to a boil. Add the live lobster to the boiling stock, reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 10 minutes.

Remove the lobster from the stock and place it on the side to cool. While the lobster is cooling continue to boil the stock so that it may reduce.

When the lobster has cooled sufficiently to allow handling, shell it over a mixing bowl or pie plate taking special care to catch all the juices. Place the lobster meat on the side for later use. Return all the reserved juices, shells and otherwise inedible parts of the lobster to the lobster stock and boil until the stock has reduced by half.

In a separate stockpot, melt the butter, then add the flour to the butter making a roux. Cook the roux over a medium heat for about 1 minute while continually whisking. Add the tomato puree and cook for an additional minute.

Strain the lobster stock through a fine sieve. Add the lobster stock 1/2 cup at a time while whisking smooth. When the soup reaches the consistency of a gravy, reduce the heat and add the lemon juice, salt, Lea & Perrins, A1 Sauce, sugar, and white pepper and simmer for about 10 minutes while stirring.

Slowly add the light cream while stirring and bring the soup back to temperature. Adjust the seasoning. Chop or slice the reserved lobster meat into desired size and add to soup. Serve at once.