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ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning today, seafood lovers can visit any of the more than 670 Red Lobster restaurants throughout North America to sample new "Dozens of Shrimp" selections, including for the first time "Grilled Baby Rack of Shrimp" and "Citrus Shrimp in a Bag."

(Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030908/FLM006 http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030109/FLTH002LOGO-a )

"Red Lobster has a long history of sharing creative preparations with seafood lovers around North America. For instance, in 1974 we introduced popcorn shrimp to America," said Red Lobster President Edna Morris. "Now, we are again introducing a collection of new, exciting preparations that are sure to be an instant hit with our guests as we bring the flavors and the feelings of the seaside to everyone."

For those who are familiar with a rack of lamb or a rack of ribs, the new Red Lobster Grilled Baby Rack of Shrimp is certain to appeal to seafood lovers. The tempting presentation features 12 shrimp grilled on a skewer and brushed with Red Lobster's tangy new citrus BBQ sauce.

Also on the menu for the first time is Citrus Shrimp in a Bag, which features 12 shrimp steamed in a parchment bag that is opened and served at the table -- delighting guests with the flavorful aromas of lemon, pepper and herb seasonings.

The two new shrimp preparations are offered as part of a new "Dozens of Shrimp" entree, available for a limited time. The entree offers guests two-, three- or four-dozen shrimp accompanied by a snow-capped baked potato and a choice of salads. The shrimp can be prepared as Grilled Baby Rack of Shrimp, Citrus Shrimp in a Bag as well as the traditional Shrimp Scampi and Freshly Hand-Breaded Fried Shrimp.

Red Lobster Executive Chef Keith Keogh said the preparations showcase the versatility of shrimp -- now America's most popular seafood. "These preparations give our guests a wide variety of flavors and textures," he said. "The Grilled Baby Rack of Shrimp and the Citrus Shrimp in a Bag are made without added fats or oils. They pack a lot of flavor that is sure to delight our guests."

In addition to the Dozens of Shrimp, guests at Red Lobster, for a limited time, can also enjoy two additional appetizers, as well as a new dinner entree. They are:

* Crown of Shrimp -- This new appetizer is perfect for sharing, with its 12 tempura shrimp standing tall on skewers around a grilled pineapple ring base and accompanied by a wasabi dipping sauce.

* Grilled Shrimp Cocktail -- Featuring grilled shrimp basted with a tasty garlic sauce, this new appetizer is served on a bed of thinly sliced tortilla strips with a spicy cocktail dipping sauce.

* Grilled Salmon & Shrimp Skewers -- A grilled fresh salmon fillet is paired with two skewers of garlic shrimp, and served with grilled vegetables and roasted potatoes.

For the perfect beverage to accompany seafood, Red Lobster has also added, for a limited time, two new drinks that feature the flavors of fall:

* Caramel Appletini -- This martini, with a caramel apple twist, is made with Absolut Vodka, DeKuyper Apple Pucker and Red Lobster's fresh sour mix, and topped with a swirl of caramel and a fresh apple slice.

* Cranberry Apple Sangria -- This autumn treat has a Spanish flair and can be made for one person or two and features Sutter Home Chardonnay and White Zinfandel, Ocean Spray Cranberries, crisp apples and sweet oranges.

"Martinis and sangria with seasonal fruit flavors are extremely popular," said Keogh. "The fall season is the perfect time to highlight the wonderful flavors and colors of apple and cranberry in these drinks."

About Red Lobster

Red Lobster is the world's largest seafood casual dining operation with over 670 restaurants in the United States and Canada and more than 65,000 employees. The company served more than 144 million guests in fiscal 2003 (ending May 25, 2003) and enjoyed total sales of $2.4 billion, a 4.1 percent increase over the previous year.

Recently, diners recognized it as the nation's best seafood restaurant for the 15th year in a row in a nationwide poll by Restaurants & Institutions magazine. It is also the winner of a 2002 Special Brand Reinvention Award from Chain Store Age magazine for its Coastal Home design, the 2002 Menu Masters Award from Nation's Restaurant News and the 2001 Menu Strategist of the Year Award from Restaurant Business magazine. Additionally, in 2002 the Wall Street Journal identified Red Lobster's wine list as one of the three best in casual dining.

The company is a subsidiary of Darden Restaurants Inc. . Darden also owns and operates Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze, Smokey Bones BBQ Sports Bar and Seasons 52 restaurants. For the Red Lobster nearest you, call 1-800-LOBSTER or visit www.redlobster.com.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030908/FLM006
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030109/FLTH002LOGO-aAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Red Lobster

CONTACT: Wendy Spirduso, wspirduso@redlobster.com, or Denise Wilson,dwilson@redlobster.com, both of Red Lobster, +1-407-245-4372; or MichaelGannet, mgannet@piersongrant.com, ext. 233, or Rachel Stein,rstein@piersongrant.com, ext. 228, both of Pierson Grant, +1-954-776-1999

Web site: http://www.darden.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/105228.html