Having fresh shellfish for dinner is a wonderful dining experience that everyone should find a way to try. While it is easiest to obtain fresh shellfish if you live on or near one of the coasts, where is seafood is plentiful, there might still be a specialty shop or restaurant that flies in the "catch of the day." The best place to get fresh shellfish yourself is via the Internet-FedEx delivers to the continental U.S. which makes it possible for one to have fresh seafood on a regular basis. Having fresh fish is definitely so much better than frozen.

Who is to question the king of seafood is none other than lobster? It must have taken a brave person to decide to try this thing the first time. Believe it or not, they were very unpopular for the longest time. To us, this pricey delicacy was once the food of peasants. Although true, it will probably be only a small comfort when your forking over $11.95 a pound in stores or $29.95 in a restaurant. Lots of times, the only way to ensure your getting the freshest lobster as possible is to order online. After all, this way you can be certain its fresh because you are ordering fresh from the coast and having it shipped directly to you.

If you wish to prepare lobster at home, you buy one per person, alive and kicking at your fishmonger or seafood counter, bringing them home in a bag. Do not put them in fresh water; people often do, but it will kill them. Just close the bag well and keep it in the refrigerator. They don't really keep: plan to eat them that evening.

Here's the tough part. Each lobster, sadly, will have to give its life for your meal, and you are the one who has to make it happen. To do it humanely, you can drop them into water that is at a violent rolling boil, or you can put them out of their misery first by inserting the point of a knife briskly between the head and the body, which kills them instantly. If you choose the second option, they can be steamed in less water. You can also grill them.

When it's time to enjoy some lobster, don't be shy or hold back. Add the lemon and the butter that taste so good and enjoy the delicious meat within the shell. You may even find the edible tomalley or red roe within the shell as well as an extra treat.

An ocean-themed meal like this doesn't have to be limited to just lobster. Try some fresh shellfish like mussels for instance. Just scrub them thoroughly and steam them in in a liquid like wine, water or broth. Also try steamer clams, you steam these and dip them into a broth to wash away any sand left over from the beach. Another great shellfish baked, fried or sometimes raw is oyster. Don't forget langoustines, shrimp and crayfish. All of which are tasty treats from the sea.

Should these kind of seafood be still a bit daunting, there's another choice for the faint of heart. You can always go to the soup aisle and purchase some clam chowder. Fresh fish is better, but you'll at least get the true briny taste of the ocean. Serve it with oyster crackers, perhaps an extra dash of cream, and lots of ground black pepper. Then think you're on the shore.