SHORESIDE LOBSTER BISQUE

Steps:

• Bring large pot of water to boil.
• Add lobsters head first and boil until cooked through, about 8 minutes.
• Using tongs, transfer lobsters to large bowl.
• Reserve 2 cups cooking liquid.
• Cool lobsters.
• Working over large bowl to catch juices, cut off lobster tails and claws.
• Crack tail and claw shells and remove lobster meat.
• Coarsely chop lobster meat; cover and chill.
• Coarsely chop lobster shells and bodies; transfer to medium bowl.
• Reserve juices from lobster in large bowl.
• Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over high heat.
• Add lobster shells and bodies and sauté until shells begin to brown, about 8 minutes.
• Add onion and next 8 ingredients (celery through peppercorns).
• Mix in brandy and Sherry.
• Boil until almost all liquid has evaporated, about 4 minutes.
• Add fish stock, reserved 2 cups lobster cooking liquid and lobster juices.
• Simmer 1 hour.
• Strain soup through sieve set over large saucepan, pressing firmly on solids.
• Whisk tomato paste into soup.
• Simmer until soup is reduced to 3 cups, about 15 minutes.
• (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Add cream to soup and simmer 5 minutes.
• Dissolve cornstarch in 1 tablespoon water.
• Add to soup and boil until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
• Mix lobster meat into soup and stir to heat through.
• Ladle soup into bowls.