Yesterday when I succumbed to the call of the couch and watched an episode or three of Barefoot Contessa, I made a vow to make her Lobster Corn Chowder at the earliest opportunity. So this morning, after I volunteered at my kids’ school, cutting apples until my cuticles were brown (no lie) I took a little trip to Wegman’s for lobster and corn and a few other necessary ingredients.
It was a dicey expedition because my 4-year-old was at the end of her proverbial rope, but I was determined to have Lobster Corn Chowder for dinner, and Wegman’s is known for having excellent seafood.
After we made our way around the giant grocery establishment, loading our cart with various and sundry edible products, and avoiding a few horrific tantrums along the way (pat me on the back) we wandered over to the seafood area. (I always wait to buy my seafood last so it doesn’t spoil.)
I didn’t spot any lobsters on our first drive-by, so I went back and inquired. The employee behind the seafood counter looked me straight in the eye and said soberly, “We don’t have any. We lost them all.”
I stood there for a minute, not sure if I understood him correctly.
“Seriously?” I responded, suppressing the inexplicable urge to giggle.
“Yep,” he said, “The tank broke, and they all died. We had to throw ‘em all out.”
“Wow,” I stuttered, not sure what to say. Do I chuckle? Offer condolences? Finally I opted for the obvious. “That’s not good.”
“Nope, not good at all,” he replied. “But we’ll be getting more tomorrow,” he assured me.
But I drove all the way over here TODAY, I wanted to scream.
Don’t worry; I didn’t. I went to the checkout and then calmly drove home and set out a couple of steaks to thaw.
But I’m still holding out hope for Lobster Corn Chowder sometime this week.
Photo credit: tuppus
Ugh. I got mad the other day, I live in the sticks. Both my boys take violin lessons, but the music store is about 30 minutes away.
My first attempt turned out to be on Yom Kippur. I didn’t know until that day that the owners were Jewish and had not consulted my calendar. There was no sign on the door. (That was my only irritation).
A week later, I drove down again only to find out they no longer stocked the book the boys needed and I’d have to drive another 30 minutes to a different store.
(I finally got it, but man. . .)
Oh my gosh, Jo-Lynne, it sounds like a cartoon! I can’t believe they LOST their lobsters!!
Oh honey, I can so relate to this! Somewhere back in October (or was it late September) I wrote about how I drove around to 8–EIGHT!–different grocery stores looking for canned pumpkin. I found out that day that there was a pumpkin shortage (which, apparently, has since ended). But the levels of frustration knew no bounds that day!
Hope it works out for tomorrow. I’d love to see pictures of that chowder–sounds delish!!!
Why do we always attempt some great plan on an already busy day and it doesn’t work out? And it always seems it’s after a day we needed to take it easy, like we feel we need to make extra work for ourselves to compensate? Maybe that’s just me.
First, I’m very impressed that you were going to make lobster chowder. It completely creeps me out to think about getting the lobster out of his shell.
Second, what’s the deal with cutting apples?
LOL. The kids compared 3 different kinds of apples and voted. EVERY KID IN THE SCHOOL.
We lost them all, made me think they ran away! lol
how sad what a waste of delicous seafood. Guess they couldn’t gather them quickly and put in a tub?
WOW – it’s too bad they didn’t all crawl away, that would have been great! (for your blog, not the store LOL)
My husband works in a meat department at a grocery store, and they have had lobster incidents too. One time a customer put their hand in the tank and threw off the ph balance. Killed all the lobsters. I don’t recall the other issues, but there have been a few when the lobsters died. Yep, stuff happens.
I would like to know exactly WHAT they did with those lobsters that got out. Did they have their own chowder? I should hope so!