🤿Family traditions Florida-style…

Every July, Florida’s coast comes alive with a unique blend of excitement and tradition: the lobster mini-season. Since 1987, mini-season has been giving “regular folks” a chance to experience the thrill of catching spiny lobsters before the commercial lobster season begins and to serve up a meal that epitomizes Florida.

Grilled lobster, its succulent meat perfectly charred, followed by a slice of tangy key lime pie - it doesn't get any more Florida than that.

Mini-season happens this week every year on the last Wednesday and Thursday of July. It's a time when families come together, slip on their fins and plunge into warm, clear water and return to their favorite lobster hiding spots. This year, the tradition was expanded when the Governor added another day to the event (it was last Sunday) which gave recreational divers another opportunity to catch up to 12 lobsters (the limit is 6 in The Keys).

I first became part of this tradition in 1997 when I moved from Michigan to Key Largo to join a friend in building the world's largest dive shop - Divers Direct. I knew nothing about the passionate community I was diving into. Since then, I’ve become a part of it and so has my family (which came along a little later).

Divers are a special breed, and the lobstering sub-species is even more so. There’s a certain camaraderie among us as we prepare our gear, swap tips, and share tales of past catches. For many, it's not just about the lobsters but about the experience—the thrill of the hunt, the mystery of the world underwater, and the joy of sharing a freshly caught meal with loved ones.

If you’re lucky enough to be in Florida this year for mini-season and even luckier to have a cooler full of lobsters, I encourage you to give some new recipes a try. Two of my favorites are Lobster Corn Fritters and Lobster Capellini with Saffron Cream Sauce. These dishes not only offer a fresh way to enjoy Florida's favorite summertime feast, but they also come in handy when you didn't bag enough lobsters to give everyone their own grilled tail.

Here's to another successful mini-season! Stay safe and may your catches be plentiful, your meals delicious, and your memories unforgettable.

Bon appétit 😋

Recipe of the Week