Photography by Donovan Roberts Witmer
Lancastrians in the know go to Mr. Bill’s for the freshest seafood in town. When we visited, owner Tim Glatfelter said shipments of crabs were coming 15 times that week. Last summer, Glatfelter was advertising some of the lowest prices we’ve ever seen on whole Maine lobsters–$5.99 per pound–and he expects this summer to be similar.
What happens, he explains, is “lobsters start shedding in early July,” and “they’re full of meat before the shed.” While it takes about seven years to get a one-pound lobster, he says, Maine has been getting, and is expected to have again this year, an abundance of lobster in July and August.
Mr. Bill’s Seafood got its start specializing in Maryland blue crabs with the Lancaster location that opened in 1973. Glatfelter worked for the original “Mr. Bill,” as he was known around York, when he was in high school and has now owned the company since 1981. Today the iconic store and their stand at Lancaster Central Market sell everything from shrimp, clams, oysters and scallops to over 15 types of fish, including hard-to-find varieties like monk fish (often called “poor man’s lobster”) and more.
Mr. Bill’s Lobster Rolls
Recipe courtesy: Mr. Bill’s Seafood Serves 3 1 pound lobster meat 4 ribs celery ½ cup mayonnaise 3 top-sliced hot dog buns (Mr. Bill’s uses Pepperidge Farms) Lettuce, optional
Squeeze out excess juice from lobster. Chop lobster meat medium coarse. Chop celery crosswise on whole ribs into half moons. Add mayonnaise. Fold ingredients together gently. Fill buns with lettuce if desired then mound with lobster salad.
Mr. Bill’s Lobster Bisque
Recipe courtesy: Mr. Bill’s Seafood Serves 8 Ingredients 1 celery rib 1 onion 1 red pepper 1 pound butter 1 ½ cups flour ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon white pepper ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon paprika 1 quart lobster stock (see preparation below) 1 quart heavy cream 1 pound lobster meat
Puree celery, onion and red pepper in food processor. Saute with butter and flour for 15 minutes to form roux. Add spices. Slowly add heated lobster stock and whisk until smooth. Add cream and fold in lobster gently. Garnish with a drizzle of Sherry if desired.
Mr. Bill’s Lobster Stock
2 lobster bodies ½ onion ¼ pound carrots 3 ribs celery ½ lemon
Fill a stock pot with enough water to cover the lobster bodies. Bring to a light boil. Simmer one hour. Strain.
Mr. Bill’s Seafood 431 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster 717-299-2791 | MrBillsSeafood.com
