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Serves: 4

• 1/2 cup sea salt, preferably Gray Salt
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 (3-oz) box crab boil spice (recommended: Zatarain’s)
• 1/4 cup fennel seeds
• 2 tbsp black peppercorns
• 1 tbsp red pepper flakes
• 2 tbsp coriander seeds
• 6 lemons, halved
• 4 medium artichokes (no need to trim)
• 8 small boiling potatoes
• 2 onions, unpeeled, ends removed
• 5 whole, unpeeled heads of garlic
• 1 cup dry wine
• 2 (1 1/2 lb) lobsters
• 1 dozen fresh clams
• 1 lb jumbo shrimp in the shell

• Garnishes:
• melted unsalted butter
• sea salt, preferably Gray Salt
• fennel Spice Rub
• hot pepper sauce

Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot. When water is at a full boil, salt generously and then add bay leaves, crab boil seasoning, fennel seeds, peppercorns, red pepper flakes, coriander seeds, and lemons. Return to a boil, add artichokes, and cover. Boil for 10 minutes and then add potatoes and onions; reduce heat to a simmer and return the cover to the pot. Simmer for 5 minutes and then add garlic and wine. Simmer, covered, until artichokes, onions, and potatoes are tender; as they vegetables become tender, remove them to a serving platter (the potatoes should take about 20 to 30 minutes, and then artichokes and onions, about 30 to 40 minutes).

After you have removed all the vegetables, add the lobsters. Cook just until they begin to turn pink, about 3 minutes. Then add the clams; after 30 seconds, add shrimp. Cook until the shrimp turn pink and begin to curl and the clams open fully, about 5 minutes.

Cut the onions in half. Cut the artichokes in half and scoop out and discard the chokes.

Serve the shrimp, potatoes, onions, and artichokes with shallow bowls of melted butter, sea salt, and the Fennel Spice Rub for dipping, and with jars of hot sauce.