31 years ago, six women on an island off the coast of Massachusetts began selling lobster rolls as a church fundraiser. Today, people travel by car, boat, and plane just to taste these hallowed summer treats. And it's not just the Christian fold.
"Don't tell my rabbi I'm here," one woman told Dan before leaving with her bounty.
This week, Dan travels to New England to uncover Grace Church's secret recipe and learn the surprising history the church holds in its stained glass.
Along the way, we meet Beau Picard, who's chaired the Lobster Roll Committee for the past three years...
...and Roger McGarry, who tells us that the secret to the recipe is in listening for "the squish":
Plus, Daniel Gritzer from Serious Eats breaks down the science of why frozen lobster might be better than fresh.
This is the second in a two part series we’re doing on churches that are using food to fulfill their missions in surprising ways. Last week, Dan met a barbecue pitmaster and preacher in Centerville, Tennessee. This week Dan travels to New England, where lobster is king, especially in the summer, when a lobster roll is the perfect treat to grab on your way to, or from, the beach.
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Interstitial music in this episode from Black Label Music:
- "Stay For The Summer" by Will Van De Crommert
- "Comin' for a Change" by Stephen Clinton Sullivan
- "Summer Getaway" by Stephen Clinton Sullivan
- "Intrepid Stratagem" by Stephen Clinton Sullivan
Photo: Courtesy of Dan Pashman.