While meat and seafood have been served at the same meal since since the dawn of plenty, and Diamond Jim Brady (1856-1917) consumed platters heaped with steaks and lobsters, the pairing known as surf and turf originated in 1960s America.

It became the darling of American steakhouse menus, combining the two most expensive items on the menu: lobster (surf) and filet mignon (turf). It has its own food holiday, February 29th, National Surf & Turf Day.

But we can’t wait until the next leap year, 2016, to share this treat: surf and turf sushi.
 
 
SURF & TURF HISTORY

The earliest earliest print reference found by FoodTimeline.org, our favorite reference source on the history of all things food, was published in the Eureka [California] Humboldt Standard of August 14, 1964:

“An entrée in restaurants in Portland [Oregon] is called surf and turf—a combination of lobster and steak.”

Some sources claim that the concept originated on the East Coast, based on a 1966 print citation newspaper article in the Miami News.

The columnist says that the restaurant La Hasta has created the best thing since lox and bagels—surf and turf; and that on some weekends the management had to take the dish off the menu, since demand exceeded supply.

Sorry, East Coasters: 1964 beats 1966.

Yet a third claim from a food writer couple, without printed proof, that the same dish by the same name was served at the Sky City restaurant in the Seattle Space Needle, at the 1962 World’s Fair.

That may be, but documentation is required. If anybody remembers it from the World’s Fair: Please raise your hand. There’s a bonus if you have the menu.

Fun fact: The beef-seafood combo is called “Reef and Beef” in Australia.

[1] Luxury sushi: a lobster-avocado maki topped with torched tenderloin, sweet eel sauce and a garnish of togarishi and rice crisps (photo © Ten Prime Steak And Sushi | Providence).

[2] Salmon sushi topped with pork tenderloin at Sushi Seki in New York City (photo © Sushi Seki).

The original may have been lobster and filet mignon; but as long as there’s something from the surf and something from the turf, you’ve got surf and turf! We “invent” a different combination for our monthly surf and turf dinner. The past year’s pairings have included:

 
And now, we’ve discovered surf and turf sushi from Ten Prime Steak And Sushi in Providence.

Our maki-rolling skills are rusty, but we’ll try it right after we master our March recipe, surf and turf meat loaf. (So far, ground chicken and whole baby scallops are the mix of choice.)

[3] Surf & Turf Eggs Benedict: lobster and filet mignon (photo © Bonefish Grill).

[4] A steak and lobster sandwich (photo © Sutter Home).

MIX & MATCH

You could fill every day of the year with a different option and not run out (and if anyone decides to start a restaurant based on that concept, send a hefty ideation fee here).
Pick your favorite seafood and meats: crab cake, crab legs, scallops or shrimp with lamb chops or pork chops, for example.

 
And props to Allen Brothers, purveyor of prime meats to restaurants and the public, for the idea of creating the surf-topped filet mignon.

The company topped filet mignon with a crown of lobster “stuffing” (chopped lobster, fresh herbs (try tarragon or thyme), scallions, cream, butter, sweet onions, bread crumbs and a touch of garlic), as well as a lump crab meat version with mozzarella, chopped spinach, garlic and rosemary.

(You’ll have to make your own, though; the company has updated the product with new, non-surf, toppings.)

Try your own hand at the new surf and turf and let us know your favorites.

 
 
WANT MORE?

Check out these Surf & Turf ideas.