We went for crabs last night and they were the best I have had in years. I was like a kid in a candy store with my Old Bay, vinegar, butter & beer. It was some serious delish.
You may be wondering just HOW to eat a crab. Well, first you pick out which big fat daddy you want to crunch on.
Then you flip him on his back and get ready to pull his tab (apron).
You stick your knife in between the top & bottom and pop his top.
Shuck top half, cut off the gills and clear out the mustard.
All clean! Now break him in half.
Enjoy the delicious bounty of Poseidon (or the Chesapeake Bay)!
Having a family crab night is an essential summer shin-dig around here. Whether it’s in your backyard on a newspaper covered picnic table or at your favorite shoreline crab house, it is a summer tradition of picking and drinking and eating and talking. Where I come from, eating crabs is a 3 to 4 hour event where you take off your jewelry, wear comfortable clothing that you don’t mind getting butter drippings on and most likely, you fast all day beforehand. Afterward your hands stink for a day which is totally fine because the smell only reminds you of the incredible feast you devoured the night before. Plus, lemon juice usually works to remove the odor (and the cats dig you).
One particular summer when I was about 10, we were having crabs at Delaware crab house. My cousin, who had never had crabs before, was with us. After the waitress took our order, she came back with our drinks and “tools”. To eat crabs you need a knife , a mallet and a cracker. You just do. Anyway, my cousin asked what the mallet was for. I told her that when the waitress brings out the huge tray of crabs and dumps them on the table they are partially cooked but still alive. The mallet is to kill them with. And you have to be quick before they bite you. As I recall, she looked a little uneasy. When the crabs finally came and were dumped on our table, she jumped and squealed like a pig. I was so proud of myself for fooling her. (Sorry Mere!) I tried that same line on my kids last night but they weren’t buying it.
As I brushed my teeth this morning, my tooth brush had the ever-so-faintest flavor of the sea and I smiled to myself. A great crab feast is like great sex only it lasts a hell of a lot longer.
**Editor’s note: These pictures were taken years ago with a simple (and at the time, crabby) point and shoot camera.
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You just made me hungry. Beings we live so far away form the Bay and any tide water we tend to stop in at Blue Ridge Seafood on 29 when I get a hankering for crabs. Your supper looks fabulous!
Oh, I remember reading this once before on your blog and was jealous then. I am jealous now too. I have never had crabs and wish I did.
I love Lobster and I have that every summer but would love to try crabs.
I can’t wait to get my seafood appetite back – eating crabs is one of my favorite memories and social events. I definitely think we should starting looking into a beach house for next summer for a big family trip – with lots of crab eating!
That looks sooo yummy! What was my mother thinkin’ birthin’ me in the middle of the country and nowhere near a shoreline? YUM.
Ang, Blue Ridge is where we went! You need to call me the next time you are out that way!
Ahhhhh. Yum! I spent some of my growing up time and went to school in Baton Rouge at LSU. We always had crawfish and crab boils. Many under big trees in the backyard with lots of newspaper and cold beer – nevermind the ruined fingernails. Well worth it! Now I’m gonna have to search some out. In North TX you just don’t find good stuff like that.
I’m sure it’s delicious but I don’t know if I can handle all that hands on crab destroying action. I’ve never tried eating them this way. In fact, I don’t get to eat shellfish very often. They say I’m allergic to shrimp, but I have yet to believe those crazy doctors. As for my favorite summer food… Anything from the BBQ!
I’ve never had crabs, can you believe it? Six years living in San Francisco! What is wrong with me?!?
Ah ha, yous got crabs
I live in Alaska so we get a different kind of crab. I think I’ve only had blue crab once and it was in crab cakes – delicious as I recall. I don’t like having to fight with my food at the table so I probably wouldn’t enjoy this. I had a whole lobster once, hated the process, and now stick to lobster tail.
When we head out west, I always make my request for Dungeness crabs for dinner. That way you get a crab the size of a dinner plate. I’m lazy like that. Then I move really slowly when I clean it until my FIL gets fed up, takes my crab away and does it himself. In 2 minutes flat.
It’s awesome. God bless you Cheasapeakers willing to clean a dozen crabs to fill your belly.
You are as evil as my family.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/greeblemonkey/3655136324/
We need to go for crabs sometime! I love to pick me some Maryland crabs in the summertime! ;O
You’re freaking killing me right now. I’m in JAPAN for the love of all things holy….
I went to U of MD; crab feasts were a regular affair. The pitcher of beer – the stinging cuts on your fingers you didn’t care about because the food was just that good. Man I miss that. These days it’s just canned Phillip’s backfin meat and homemade crabcakes. Not the same.
BUT – there are many other amazing summer foods. Growing up in NJ cold watermelon and Carvel ice cream while watching the fireflies drift up in the yard was such a good memory I can still smell it. Nine years in San Diego meant lots of fish tacos and some of the best fruit in the universe; particularly strawberries and mangoes. Japan has zenzai (shaved ice with sweet azuki beans and mystery creamy sauce – amazing on a tropical hot day) and cold zarusoba noodles. And of course, sushi and sashimi – and COLD BEER. With anything. Sigh. Thanks for that trip – but I’m still angry at you for those drool-inducing photos.
Bring on the crabs! I grew up near Baltimore and now live at the beach in Delaware and nothing says summer like crabs, corn, and beer. We just had some on Sunday for Father’s Day and it’s always my mothers day lunch and birthday feast. Now I’m thinking we may need some this weekend too after seeing the pictures. Glad you were able to enjoy your feast!!
We do this each year for my dad’s birthday in September. He grew up in Baltimore so we get them flown in to TN and pig out!!! Awesome!