Lobsterfest at Belgo

Killing your own food – it turns out it is more difficult than it is in your head. As a meat eater, I have often sworn to my vegetarian friends that I would have no problems killing an animal for its meat should the occasion suddenly present itself. This was to assure them that I was prepared to take responsibility for the whole process by which meat comes onto my plate. However, after being invited to Belgian restaurant Belgo ahead of their monthly Lobsterfest, the opportunity did indeed come about.

The creature was a Canadian lobster that had been put into a state of dormancy and would not be aware of being dispatched. But when the offer came to ram a sharp knife along the midline of the lobster and through its abdomen, I suddenly lost the urge to wield the blade.

I still don’t have a problem with eating meat, and the humane way in which the lobsters are dispatched is very comforting. The restaurant ensures the procedure used to kill the lobsters is as pain-free as possible, thereby ruining all the urban legends previously associated with these animals. Tales of screaming lobsters, or lobsters in a boiling pot dragging down any others that try to make it out are nothing but lies.

But given that I wasn’t so keen, two others who had been invited were gleeful at the opportunity to take on the task of dispatching the lobster. I moved away from the neophyte butchers and set about preparing the salad.

Lobsterfest at Belgo is a month-long celebration of the hard-shelled crustacean. The meat stripped from its tail and claws is used in a variety of dishes. Our group prepared four dishes: the lobster thermidor, the red Thai lobster, the lobster salad and the grilled whole lobster. The dishes have also been reasonably well matched with the numerous Belgian beers the restaurant has to offer.

I would recommend the red Thai lobster but only because it was my particular favourite and went well with the beer provided. Lobster meat is a very versatile meat due to the fact it is quite bland by itself. However, it does pick up flavours exceedingly well. For those looking for a more orthodox lobster experience, the surf `n’ turf option is readily available, with the lobster coming with a six-ounce ribeye steak, fries and salad. This dish might seem a little pricey at £24.95 but given that you are getting two excellent pieces of meat, it is well worth the investment.

Lobsterfest will be taking place at all Belgo outlets during the month of June.