New York City native Ed McFarland had never eaten a lobster until he was 17, but growing up in a family that was passionate about gardening and good food fostered his love of all things home-grown and delicious. From his humble beginnings in Staten Island pizzerias to the French Culinary Institute, Ed has worked with some of the city's best chefs and in top kitchens, including Le Cirque and Picholine. Drawn to the delicateness and simplicity of seafood, he eventually settled down at West Village mainstay Pearl Oyster Bar, where he worked as sous chef for over six years as he deepened his knowledge of classic New England cuisine and Northeast seafood culture--eventually to find that he had become a true "lobstah lovah."
In 2007, Ed’s Lobster Bar opened in SoHo to popular and critical acclaim, but as Ed's regulars know, the lobster roll that draws diners from around the world is merely a gateway to other delights. Using his own home-grown vegetables and herbs in the summer months and drawing from his Italian heritage to make homemade pastas and specials like lobster meatballs, Ed has created a truly unique spin on New England seafood. In 2011, Ed opened Caravelli's pizzeria in the World Financial Center in Lower Manhattan, as well as Ed's Lobster Bar Annex in the Lower East Side. Apart from his signature lobster roll, Ed is known for his iconic lobster tattoo (the logo of Ed's Lobster Bar adorns his right forearm) as well as his love for his dogs, his tomato garden, the Rangers, and the Giants.
Dear Lobster Lovers,
It’s finally summer! We made it through a very rainy spring, and even survived apocalyptic forecasts. And now, as the weather warms and the sun starts to shine a bit more, we’re getting ready for my favorite season (tomato season), which, incidentally, is also everyone’s favorite season for lobster! I got my vines planted so be ready for the late summer harvest. I’m pretty excited about some new and uncommon varieties that you’ll have to come in to find out about.
Some other things we’re looking forward to (now that everyone has stopped talking about the end of the world) are an updated wine list with some great summer additions in the restaurant and an expanded menu at the kiosk (at the World Financial Center) that features a grilled tuna sandwich, a grilled soft shell crab sandwich, as well as our lobster burger–my personal favorite.
We’re hoping for a warmer and sunnier June, perfect for Lobster Rolls. We’ll also be running a special promotion for the month of June. If you come in with a lobster shaved into the back of your head, you get a free lobster roll. One per shave, per person, per month.
A few upcoming holidays to note: the restaurant will be closed Memorial Day, May 30, and The Fourth of July, July 4th. The kiosk, which is at the World Financial Center behind the winter garden on the plaza near the marina, will remain open on both holidays from 12-5. And let’s not forget Father’s Day, which is June 19 this year. We will be open, and if you’re not out barbecuing, come on in, with or without Dad! A heads-up for later this fall: I’ll be participating in “Meatball Madness,” the meatball contest at the New York Food and Wine Festival, September 29.
Lots more news coming up next month. Stay tuned and stay cool!
Lobstah Love,
Ed McFarland
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 6pm to 11pm
Wednesday: 6pm to 11pm
Thursday: 6pm to 12am
Friday: 12pm to 2am
Saturday: 12pm to 2am
Sunday: 10:30am to 10pm
Dear Lobster Lovers,
It’s finally summer! We made it through a very rainy spring, and even survived apocalyptic forecasts. And now, as the weather warms and the sun starts to shine a bit more, we’re getting ready for my favorite season (tomato season), which, incidentally, is also everyone’s favorite season for lobster! I got my vines planted so be ready for the late summer harvest. I’m pretty excited about some new and uncommon varieties that you’ll have to come in to find out about.
Some other things we’re looking forward to (now that everyone has stopped talking about the end of the world) are an updated wine list with some great summer additions in the restaurant and an expanded menu at the kiosk (at the World Financial Center) that features a grilled tuna sandwich, a grilled soft shell crab sandwich, as well as our lobster burger–my personal favorite.
We’re hoping for a warmer and sunnier June, perfect for Lobster Rolls. We’ll also be running a special promotion for the month of June. If you come in with a lobster shaved into the back of your head, you get a free lobster roll. One per shave, per person, per month.
A few upcoming holidays to note: the restaurant will be closed Memorial Day, May 30, and The Fourth of July, July 4th. The kiosk, which is at the World Financial Center behind the winter garden on the plaza near the marina, will remain open on both holidays from 12-5. And let’s not forget Father’s Day, which is June 19 this year. We will be open, and if you’re not out barbecuing, come on in, with or without Dad! A heads-up for later this fall: I’ll be participating in “Meatball Madness,” the meatball contest at the New York Food and Wine Festival, September 29.
Lots more news coming up next month. Stay tuned and stay cool!
Lobstah Love,
Ed McFarland
Massachusetts Lobster Fishery Invited to Participate in New “Commonwealth Quality” Program
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) has created a new branding and marketing program called “Commonwealth Quality”. The program is designed to identify locally-sourced products that are grown, harvested and processed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts using practices that are safe, sustainable and don’t harm the environment. In a January 2011 letter to Massachusetts fishermen, MDAR Commissioner Scott Soares wrote, “The seal of Commonwealth Quality is intended to tell your customers what you sometimes do not have the opportunity or time to say: that your fishing operation not only adheres to applicable federal, state, and local regulatory requirements, but it also employs practices and production standards that address food safety and environmental concerns.”
Click Below to read the full Issue.
Dear Lobster Lovers,
It’s March. Lots of important occasions to celebrate this month, beginning with the Ides of March on the 15th. Once again this year, if you come in dressed as Julius Caesar you will receive a free Ed’s Caesar salad. March is also National Peanut Butter Month, and in honor of the peanut industry we will continue to use peanut oil to fry our french fries. Another favorite occasion is St. Patty’s day, for which we will sprinkle green chives on each of our lobster rolls.
Warm weather is approaching, and it’s time for me to start thinking about my garden. I’ve begun reviewing seed selections and possible new varieties of tomatoes — if you have a suggestion do let me know. Every year I expand my garden. Last year I planted thirty-two tomato plants and this year I plan to do forty, mostly just to compete with John who boasted thirty-three plants last year. But all joking aside, I’m excited about getting started with my garden. In other home news, my pups have grown big and Molly (the lab) is younger, but already bigger than Jameson (pit bull).
In restaurant news, we’ve been loving our razor clams specials, we’ve introduced whelks to the raw bar, and we’ve changed our daily specials slightly: on Saturdays we’re doing Lobster Cannelloni and on Sundays a classic Lobster Thermador. We’ve also bid a farewell to two of our long-time waitstaff, Louis and Nicole, who headed out west to pan for some Hollywood gold. We miss them and wish them the best! For those of you who have not heard the rumors, John and I will be expanding our presence in the World Financial Center in the next month and opening up Caravelli’s Pizzaria where we’ll be offering thin-crust pizza as well as my own Sicilian specialties. We’ll also be re-opening the Ed’s Lobster Bar kiosk at the WFC plaza in early April. We look forward to seeing lots of familiar faces down there soon. Until next month, find us, and friend us, and tweet us!
Lobstah love,
Ed McFarland
Dear Lobster Lovers,
It’s February again, and just like last year, we’re packing the month with specials to honor all the many holidays that mark an otherwise blustery and gray time of year. First of all, it’s time to revise your resolutions and to-do lists as we celebrate National Time Management Month — not to mention Library Lovers Month, Aggressive Driving Month, Workplace Eye Safety Month, and of course those hole-y and hall-marked holidays we all look forward to. That’s right, we kick off with Groundhog Day on Wednesday the 2nd and we’re proposing a deal: if the Groundhog doesn’t see it s shadow, we’re celebrating an early spring by offering $1 oysters from 5-7 PM. (And even if he does see his shadow, we’ll still have our regular oyster happy hour from 5-7 PM!) And, as tradition and numbers dictate, midway through the month we have the 14th of February, Valentine’s Day — so while the weather might continue to deep freeze us, we’ll be heating things up here by offering half priced bottles of champagne and sparkling wine all weekend long (beginning Saturday evening the 12th through Monday the 14th).
Stay tuned for some exciting and mouth-watering news later in the month. We can’t say more than that right now, but keep an eye on your inbox (as if you don’t already). And as usual, join us on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-the-moment information, and finally, a warning to all who are visiting Belarus (especially hunters), beware of armed foxes! True story.
Lobstah love,
Ed McFarland
Ed McFarland from Ed’s Lobster Bar on the Toni On! New York show making baked chicken wings.
Ed McFarland from Ed’s Lobster Bar on the Toni On! New York Show with Toni Senecal.
Ed McFarland of Ed’s Lobster Bar on the Toni On! New York Show making linguine and clams.