That's How We

LOBSTAH ROLL!

At Native Maine

A team of Maine culinary whizzes combined 45 pounds of Maine lobster meat, four gallons of Kraft Miracle Whip and a special blend of herbs and seasonings into a mix that was slathered onto a 60-foot roll (baked by our friends at Amato’s) that was so large that the bread was brought in on a flatbed truck!

Dane Somers, Executive director of the Maine Lobster Promotion Council agreed with the assessment: Portland helped build the The World’s Longest Lobster Roll during the Old Port Festival, yesterday! Indeed it appears to be 61 feet, 9 inches long, more than enough to win a place in Guinness World Records if it's authenticated.

"It's official! The world's longest lobster roll is 61 feet, 9 ½ inches. Right here in Portland, Maine!" declared Rep. Herb Adams, a Portland Democrat and master of ceremonies for the event organized by the West End Neighborhood Association. However, although organizers, participants and corporate sponsors like Native Maine Produce & Specialty Foods are confident that we have accomplished the feat during Sunday's Old Port Festival, it will take some time before Guinness gets back to us with the official word.

Native Maine’s own Corporate chef emeritus and the 2008 Maine Lobster Chef of the Year, Margaret Salt McLellan, CEC, finished the assembly on behalf of Linda Bean’s Perfect Maine Lobster Roll Company (where she now serves as full-time Executive chef) with a sprinkling of a secret blend of seasonings. She was impressed with the level of organization. "It's like a synchronized swim team," said Chef Salt-McLellan.

The event raised $3,600 in sales of lobster roll pieces (which also came with a bottle of Summit Spring-Spring Water and a bag of Madhouse Munchies Potato chips) and Kraft Foods, owners of Miracle Whip^® DOUBLED the revenue by presenting a check for an additional $3,600 for the West End Neighborhood Association for a total of $7,200! Michael Whittaker, the organizer, came up with the idea as a way to provide swimming lessons to needy children. Sales of 4-inch-long pieces of the finished lobster roll – packaged with chips, a drink are expected to fund lessons for about 250 children!

The purpose of the West End Neighborhood Association is to address issues and concerns that affect the quality of life of all who live and/or work in the West End of Portland. The Association fosters and sponsors projects of the individual districts that comprise the West End; serves as a liaison to City Hall; monitors the delivery of city services; provides input and questions in regards to property development and design, and ensures that the neighborhoods throughout the West End are clean, safe, quiet and attractive.

Native Maine Produce & Specialty Foods proudly supplied on-site refrigeration (a refrigerated truck) at the event for the day to protect the perishable ingredients and organized the delivery and donation of other specialty foods to the event. We specifically thank Summit Springs-Spring Water Company and Madhouse Munchies Potato Chips, vendors of Native Maine for their generous contributions of product for the event.