35 years ago, 1st Red Lobster opened doors

[Guest]

Red Lobster, the Orlando-based restaurant company that invented popcorn shrimp in the 1970s and grew to become the nation's largest casual-dining seafood chain, is celebrating its 35th anniversary.Red Lobster started with a single outlet in Lakeland in 1968 and now operates 670 restaurants throughout North America, employing about 70,000 people.

As the flagship chain for Orlando-based Darden Restaurants Inc., Red Lobster got its start when restaurateur Bill Darden and Joe Lee opened the first outlet about an hour's drive south of Orlando. They billed it as "a harbor for seafood lovers." Today, some eight out of 10 casual-dining consumers across the nation have eaten at one of the 670 Red Lobsters in the United States or Canada, according to a national survey by Marketing and Research Counselors.

Lee now heads Red Lobster's parent company, named Darden Restaurants Inc. in memory of the late founder of the chain. Darden also owns Olive Garden, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, and two newer chains launched in the 1990s, Bahama Breeze and Smokey Bones BBQ. A new test concept called Seasons 52 is scheduled to open soon.

Red Lobster is by far the largest of the Darden chains, though, and is visited by more than 2.7 million customers a week, or more than 140 million a year.But the chain is looking to the future even as it celebrates its past, said Edna Morris, who was appointed president of the chain last year.

Red Lobster recently introduced, for example, a new architectural design called Coastal Home, a bright, lighter seaside look that will be featured in all new outlets and in 134 existing Red Lobsters that will be remodeled this fiscal year.

John Altomare, Red Lobster's senior vice president of operations development, said the restaurants' customers "have an emotional tie to the ocean," as a place they go to relax, vacation and enjoy time with family and friends.

"Our Coastal Home look reinforces these feelings and memories," Altomare said.

Red Lobster has become "an icon in casual dining," said Morris, former president of Quincy's Family Steakhouse. She joined Red Lobster in 1998.Morris said the chain has become a "trusted brand" through the past 35 years and is strategically positioned to be "the seafood experts in the casual-dining industry" in the coming decades.

In addition to the new Coastal Home look, the company also has revamped the menu to feature larger portions of fresh fish and new dishes that emphasize bold flavors of Asian, Italian and Southwestern cuisine.

To celebrate the 35th anniversary, Red Lobster has an all-you-can eat popcorn shrimp promotion, through Feb. 9. The restaurant was the first to introduce minishrimp nuggets, in 1974, a style that has since become a staple in the casual and fast-food seafood industries.



One of our favourites yum yum


jj...

[Anne]

Ok- I'll ask- what's Popcorn Shrimp when it's at home

[ANGEL]

yep, thats about it! Becky's favourite...popcorn shrimp...mmmmmm

[Guest]

Anne this is what i could find out about Popcorn Shrimp

1 pound small shrimp (bite-sized), shelled
2 eggs, beaten
Breadcrumbs Dash or two of cayenne pepper (the more you add, the hotter the bites)
Combine the breadcrumbs and the cayenne pepper in a bowl.

With a slotted spoon, dip a spoonful of shrimp in the eggs, then drop them into the breadcrumb/cayenne mixture.

Toss with a fork to thoroughly coat.

Deep fry until golden brown.

Drain and eat like popcorn






jj...

[Guest]

I love Red Lobster! Unfortunately, they closed all of the ones in a 3 hour drive around here and replaced them with Olive Garden, YUCK!

[Anne]

That sounds really scrummy John- will have to see if we can try it in December