In search of the perfect lobster roll

In search of the perfect lobster roll

From The Big Dig Presents: Catching The Codfather by GBH News

April 8, 2026 · 33 min

About this episode

This episode explores the history and secrets behind a famous lobster roll from Martha’s Vineyard.

In the 1980s, six women on an island off the coast of Massachusetts began selling lobster rolls as a church fundraiser. Today, people travel by car, boat, and plane just to taste these hallowed summer treats. Today we bring you an episode from one of our favorite food podcasts, “The Sporkful”, in which host Dan Pashman travels to Martha’s Vineyard to uncover Grace Church’s secret recipe. Plus, Daniel Gritzer from Serious Eats breaks down the science of why frozen lobster might be better than fresh. https://www.sporkful.com/the-secret-to-grace-churchs-lobster-rolls/ Find more from The Sporkful, wherever you listen to podcasts or at www.sporkful.com --- We talked a lot this season about fish: the cod, the haddock, the flounder. We heard about monk fish and grey sole, hake and halibut. But if you’ve ever spent a summer in New England, you know that if there is one food we take more seriously than our fish, it’s our shellfish. So today I’m excited to bring you an episode from one of my favorite podcasts – The Sporkful – in which host Dan Pashman travels to Martha’s Vineyard to uncover the secret recipe of his favorite lobster roll. Plus, Daniel Gritzer from Serious Eats breaks down…

People in this episode

Host: Dan Pashman

Guest: Daniel Gritzer

Topics covered

  • lobster roll
  • food history
  • Martha’s Vineyard
  • cooking secrets
  • seafood science

Keywords

  • lobster roll
  • Grace Church
  • Martha’s Vineyard
  • Dan Pashman
  • Serious Eats
  • frozen lobster
  • seafood

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Serious Eats, Grace Church

Books & works: The Sporkful

Places: Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

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