Surf and turf is a main dish that consists of both seafood and red meat. Surf (sea) is represented by the seafood, and turf (grass) is represented by the red meat. The term first appeared in the 1960s in the Los Angeles Times. The most common surf & turf pairing is lobster and any cut of beef steak. Lobster is sometimes substituted with scallops, shrimp, or crab legs.