NATION : ‘Liz Taylor of Lobsters’ Dies

DETROIT — Mimi, the 17 1/2-pound lobster described as the Elizabeth Taylor of crustaceans, died of natural causes days after being shipped to her new home--at a restaurant. She was between 20 and 100 years old, officials said.

Mimi, captured last week off the Maine coast and flown to Detroit, died in the tank at Carl’s Chop House, which paid $320 for the huge lobster.

“She had quit moving. I picked her up. She still didn’t move,” said Barry Hornecker, executive chef at Carl’s.

So he chilled and poached Mimi and began making plans for a feast.

“Mimi was like Elizabeth Taylor. . . . She was always beautiful,” said Jim Richards, owner of the Long Wharf Lobster Co. in Portland, Me., which flew the lobster to Detroit.