National Lobster Newburg Day

Celebrated annually on March 25^th, National Lobster Newburg Day is designated after a classic American seafood dish. Lobster Newburg (or Newberg) debuted in 1876 at Delmonico, a fine New York restaurant. It is made of lobster, butter, cognac, cream, cayenne pepper, sherry, and eggs.

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Related: Other National Days Celebrated on March 1st:

National Tolkien Reading Day

National Medal of Honor Day

Why National Lobster Newburg Day

National Lobster Newburg day is named after the rich, creamy lobster delicacy from New York. Lobster Newburg is so yummy that it deserves its holiday. It was invented by Ben Wenburg, a wealthy sea captain in the fruit trade and a frequent guest at Delmonico’s.

Delmonico’s was opened in New York and was one of the first formal dining restaurants in the United States. Delmonico’s was opened in 1830 by two brothers Giovanni and Peter, who revamped a small café into United State’s first fine dining restaurant with printed menus and cloth-covered tables.

One fine evening Ben Wenburg announced his creation at the Delmonico’s and demonstrated the recipe on the spot. The owner and the manager Charles Delmonico was quite impressed by the dish. And after some refinements in the sauce by Chef Charles Ranhofer, they added the dish to the menu by Lobster à la Wenburg in 1876 in honor of creator Ben Wenburg.

Soon the exquisite dish rose to fame, and lobster became a delicacy, which was earlier considered fish bait or food for the poor. However, the dish was removed from the menu over a dispute (the dispute’s issue remains unknown) between the owner and Ben Wenburg. After multiple patrons’ requests, the dish was added back to the menu by a new name. The dish was named Newburg after reversing the first three letters ‘Wen’ to ‘New.’ Thus, the famous Lobster Newburg originated.

When the dish was invented, tourism by ship and train was picking up. Canned food options were also increasing (including lobster), and people were trying seafood for the first time. Various dishes like Lobster Newburg, Lobster Tail, Lobster Bisque, etc., grew popular around this time and found their way to menus of renowned restaurants. This resulted in amplified attraction for seafood across the United States.

How Can We Observe National Lobster Newburg Day:

A few fun and interesting ways to celebrate and observe National Lobster Newburg Day are listed below-

• Prepare the Lobster Newburg with Delmonico’s original recipe.
• Enjoy the delicious creamy Lobster Newburg dish with your friends and family.
• Explore the types of lobster and the history of the lobster industry.
• Explore the history of Delmonico’s and the origin of Lobster Newburg.
• By using the hashtags #NationalLobsterNewburgDay and #LobsterNewburgDay on social media platforms.

You can add paprika instead of cayenne pepper to bring down the spicy flavor of the dish.

Interesting Facts on National Lobster Newburg Day:

Following are some interesting facts about the National Lobster Newburg Day-

• Lobster Newburg was formerly named Lobster à la Wenberg after its creator Ben Wenberg.
• Lobster Newburg dish is still popular in French menus by the name Homard sauté à la crème (lobster sautéed in cream).
• Before the mid-1800s and getting popular, lobsters were considered poor men’s food or food for prisoners.
• Delmonico is still present at the 2 William Street of New York and was once a visiting spot for rich, famous, and even royalties.
• There are many ways to prepare the dish, and many ingredients such as mushrooms, nutmeg, tomatoes, onions, etc., can be added according to one’s wish.
• According to the chef Ranhofer’s recipe printed in 1894, the lobsters are boiled fully for long twenty- five minutes. After which they are fried in clarified butter and simmered in cream till it is reduced to half. After this, it is again brought to a boil after adding alcohol.
• Newburg sauce was invented almost twenty years earlier than Thermidor sauce, another very popular and very similar lobster delicacy.

History of National Lobster Newburg Day:

Although the dish was invented almost a century and a half ago, National Lobster Newburg Day’s origin remains unknown. Every year, this day is celebrated on 25^th March to rejoice in the fame of lobsters as a delicacy.