National Lobster Thermidor Day is celebrated on January 24 every year. And we’re here to show you how you can amazingly celebrate this day. The interesting thing is that the recipe for Lobster Thermidor is 117 years old. It is a French dish of lobster meat cooked in a creamy wine sauce which is a mixture of egg yolks and brandy (such as Cognac). Then the sauce is stuffed back into a lobster shell and browned. It is often served with an oven-browned cheese crust. A key feature of this dish is that it is served in lobster tails.
History of National Lobster Thermidor Day
There are several stories and theories about the origins of the recipe for Lobster Thermidor. Some individual argues that this was first made for Napoleon Bonaparte, the protagonist of the French Revolution and the founder of the Republic of France.
Moreover, it is believed that Lobster Thermidor was prepared as a special dish for a celebratory dinner for Napoleon during the month of Thermidor. The term Thermidor believed that it came from the French Republican Calendar. The eleventh month, which is the second month of summer, was named Thermidor.
Similarly, it is also argued that it originated from the Greek word, “Thermos” meaning hot. In the Western calendar, the month of Thermador starts on July 19 and lasts for 30 days, that is, till mid-August.
Other tales say that Lobster Thermidor was created while a play called “Thermidor” was celebrated opening night at Café de Paris. Themidor — a history drama of Victorien Sardou, the height of which served as a plot about how Robespierre was overthrown.
It premiered at the Comedie-Francaise. During this time, also known as The Belle Epoque, Leopold Mourier is said to have invented the recipe for Lobster Thermidor. There is a tale that credits the recipe to Maison Maire, a famous restaurant in Paris.
National Lobster Thermidor Day is believed to have originated in the United States; it has been celebrated on January 24 as a day for that delicious recipe.
Also read, National Peanut Brittle Day – January 26, 2025
Timeline of National Lobster Thermidor Day
| 1793 (Thermidor Month is Created) | The eleventh month of the French Republican Calendar is named Thermidor. |
| 1794 (Thermidorian Reaction) | Maximilien Robespierre is overthrown in the month of Thermidor during the French Revolution. |
| 1891 (The Play) | “Thermidor,” a play based on the Thermidorian Reaction, is created by Victorien Sardou. |
| The 2000s (National Lobster Thermidor Day) | National Lobster Thermidor Day is created to celebrate the grand recipe of Lobster Thermidor. |
Seven Fun Facts About Lobsters
- A female lobster can only mate right after she has shed her moult. Once she has shed her shell, she releases a pheromone to let males know she’s in the mood!
- When lobsters mate, the eggs aren’t fertilized immediately. The female holds the male’s sperm and decides when to fertilize her eggs. Depending on how cold the water is, female lobsters can carry their eggs for around one year.
- After Moulting, Lobsters eat voraciously and will often consume their own recently emptied shells. Eating the old shell helps replenish lost calcium and speeds up the hardening of the new shell.
- The creamy green substance inside a lobster is called the tomalley. It is a digestive gland that functions as an intestine, liver, and pancreas. Although it might look unappealing to some, many people enjoy eating it and consider it delicious.
- Lobsters were once considered food for poor people. During Colonial times, there were abundant crustaceans in the northeast that were often used as fertilizer, feed for farm animals, and as fishing bait. Because they were inexpensive, they were only consumed by poor people and served to prisoners and servants.
- Lobster meat provides 28 grams of protein per cup. And if you skip the butter, they aren’t fattening. Three and a half ounces have only 96 calories and around two grams of fat.
- They also chew food with “teeth” located in their stomachs, which are right behind the eyes and about the size of a walnut.
Frequently Ask Question
When is National Lobster Thermidor Day?
National Lobster Thermidor Day is celebrated on January 24 every year.
What is the origin of Lobster Thermidor?
The origins of Lobster Thermidor are debated, with some attributing it to a celebratory dinner for Napoleon Bonaparte, while others credit it to a play titled “Thermidor” by Victorien Sardou.
Why is it called “Thermidor”?
The term “Thermidor” comes from the French Republican Calendar, where it is the eleventh month, which is linked with warmth, as “thermos” means hot in Greek.
Is lobster considered expensive?
Yes, due to harvesting processes and food safety standards, lobster has become more expensive as compared to the past.
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