Where to Buy Delicious Lobster Bisque – Top Places to Find This Iconic Soup

Lobster bisque is a refined, elegant soup that captures the essence of lobster in a rich, creamy base. This classic preparation originated in France but became popularized in American cuisine starting in the late 1800s. Today, lobster bisque remains a favorite first course to kick off an upscale seafood meal.

But where can you buy high-quality, authentic lobster bisque? In this article, we’ll highlight the top sources to get your hands on this luxurious soup, from gourmet grocery stores to online seafood purveyors. Read on to discover where to find lobster bisque to enjoy anytime.

Check Your Local Upscale Grocery Store

If you’re looking for instant gratification, your first stop should be gourmet supermarkets in your area. Well-stocked grocery stores like Whole Foods, Wegmans, Gelson’s, and Eataly often carry fresh lobster bisque options from their prepared foods sections. You’ll find it sold warm by the cup or chilled in take-home containers.

The lobster bisque available will usually be made from scratch in-house. For optimal flavor and texture, look for bisque containing noticeable chunks of lobster meat in a satiny, velvety pureed broth. Avoid bisques with fillers like cornstarch or flour to prevent a pasty consistency.

One caveat – the lobster meat won’t be exceptionally generous given the high expense. But grocery store bisque offers a quick and convenient way to pick up a tasty version to enjoy right away

Order from Restaurants That Specialize in Seafood

For a truly indulgent lobster bisque experience, order directly from white-tablecloth restaurants showcasing fresh seafood. The bisque served will be the real deal – rich, intense, and brimming with lobster flavor.

Upscale hotel restaurants often excel at bisque, like Legal Sea Foods and McCormick & Schmick’s. Independent fine dining seafood establishments also frequently feature lobster bisque such as Catch in San Francisco and Eventide in Portland Maine.

Call ahead to see if lobster bisque is currently on the menu. Some restaurants will also allow you to order a chilled takeaway container to enjoy later. Expect generous chunks of lobster meat given the higher price point.

Purchase from Online Seafood Companies

To enjoy restaurant-quality lobster bisque from home, order from online seafood purveyors. Companies like LobsterAnywhere and Maine Lobster Now ship premium bisque nationwide.

The bisque arrives frozen to maintain freshness. Look for versions containing at least 2-3 ounces of lobster meat per portion. Online sources offer high-end, ready-to-heat bisque without leaving your house.

Mail order bisque tends to be pricey given the shipping costs. But you can often buy in bulk for discounts, then freeze extras. The quality is far above grocery store prepared bisque.

Buy Canned Bisque from Specialty Markets

While most canned bisques are underwhelming, some premium brands provide an impressive approximation of fresh lobster bisque. Keep an eye out for brands like Bernard et Cie, Savoy, and Asturias when browsing specialty food stores.

The canned preparation results in a thinner, less velvety texture. But the flavor delivers thanks to generous lobster content, sherry, and concentrated seafood stocks. Canned bisque won’t match fresh but offers a tasty option to keep stocked as a pantry item.

Attempt Making It from Scratch at Home

Finally, you can try crafting truly homemade lobster bisque with fresh lobster yourself. This requires procuring cooked lobster meat, then slowly building the delicate broth over time.

Making the authentic version is labor intensive. But you can control the ingredients resulting in unbeatable flavor and texture. Cook’s Illustrated has an excellent from-scratch bisque recipe worth attempting if you’re up for a project.

Be prepared that homemade bisque takes hours between simmering the stock, straining, and properly finishing the velvety texture. You’ll also need about 1 pound of lobster meat. But the final product eclipses any store-bought version.

How to Choose the Best Lobster Bisque

When evaluating any prepared or restaurant lobster bisque, keep these quality indicators in mind:

• Generous lobster meat – Chunks of lobster should be plentiful and visible. Aim for around 2-4 ounces per serving.

• Intense, pure lobster flavor – The broth should capture the essence of lobster, without additives diluting the taste.

• Thick, creamy texture – The bisque shouldn’t be thin like soup. It should coat a spoon from all the pureed cream and butter.

• Deep red-orange color – Vibrant red-orange is a sign of plenty of lobster stock and tomato. Bland beige bisque is likely skimping on ingredients.

• Minimal filler thickeners – Cornstarch, wheat flour, and xanthan gum lead to pasty bisque. Opt for broth thickened primarily from reduced stocks and cream.

Relish the Luxury of Lobster Bisque

Lobster bisque is the ultimate indulgence that never goes out of style. With this guide, you have all the sources needed to procure top-notch bisque, whether dining out or preparing at home. Savor the richness and let the elegant ocean flavors transport you. Just be sure to balance each creamy, buttery spoonful with a crisp white wine like Chablis!