Gossips New Years Lobster

So, female with eggs. BAD. Looks like they're endangered.

Now I'm confused. Spiney lobster is what we call lobster not langostino? Langostino is river shrimp what we call crawdads?

Langosta is Spanish for lobster. Langostino is "tiny" or "small" lobster so probably crayfish.

That's what I used to think, but crayfish are a totally different animal.

What I remember eating were spiney and about 6" long and had feelers. Mexicans at the beach would throw a handful on the grill, in the shell, and toss them around with garlic and oil and serve them. You had to crack them open. They were unbelievably good and they were called langostinos. Must have been a small variety of lobster, no?

The river shrimp I've been offered to eat were in a bucket and looked like crawdads to me. I can't imagine eating anything that came out of any of these rivers around here.

Trailrunner wrote:That's what I used to think, but crayfish are a totally different animal.

What I remember eating were spiney and about 6" long and had feelers. Mexicans at the beach would throw a handful on the grill, in the shell, and toss them around with garlic and oil and serve them. You had to crack them open. They were unbelievably good and they were called langostinos. Must have been a small variety of lobster, no?

The river shrimp I've been offered to eat were in a bucket and looked like crawdads to me. I can't imagine eating anything that came out of any of these rivers around here.

I don't believe there are any "true" lobster in the pacific ocean. I think what they call spiny lobster is actually from the prawn/shrimp family. If they are small langosto's then lagostino would be appropriate. I have seen crayfish in rivers while hiking around Manzanillo and I believe there are some to be found around the lake too.

I think that's right, Bob! And "true" lobsters must only be in the cold waters of the Atlantic.

Maybe if you're on the Pacific coast of Mexico you can still ask for it at the beach restaurants and puestos and get what I used to eat years ago. You're out at the beach, right? Why don't you try asking for langostino when you go out to eat, maybe you'll get it! You won't be sorry. Ask for al mojo de ajo, ala parrilla.

All the restaurant's here advertise them as langosta. When we first arrived I asked if they had langostino. The waiter looked at me like he didn't understand so I said lobster and he said oh you mean langosta. Anyhow, they are all over the place here when they are available, which isn't everyday.

We bought 7 of them from the local pescadoria for $450 pesos. Muy bueno indeed!!!

mmmm Jealous.

Even here they do not sell live in the pescadorias. They freeze them right away since they don't keep that long. I suppose if you want live you would need to wait at the dock for the fisherman to return and buy directly from them.

Yes, or go to your favorite beach or fish restaurant and tell them you want langostas/langostinos for tomorrow night and they will send someone out to trap or spearfish a few. The guys probably all know where the best lobster holes are. Talk about fresh!