Soft Shelled Crabs
May 27th, 2004, 05:55 AM
#21
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What a good list of places to try. I may have to make a trip east. I do get Spider Rolls, but the little bit of crab is only enough to make me think about what I miss.
Bookhall, for another homage to the swimmers, there's a chapter in Michner's Cheasepeake that gives a lot of heart and soul to the little critters.
Bookhall, for another homage to the swimmers, there's a chapter in Michner's Cheasepeake that gives a lot of heart and soul to the little critters.
May 27th, 2004, 05:58 AM
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ellen_griswold,
The most important factor you need to consider is whether the restaurant has their own "molting pens". This right from the water to your plate freshness is paramount and cannot be overstated. Obviously the restaurant has to have a waterside location to have them. Call the restaurnats to make sure. Cantler's does have their own molting pens, but it is incredibly popular/crowded place 7 days a week. If you go there, you must arrive before noon. After that, it just keeps getting busier and more crowded until closing time. Again, call ahead before you make any decision.
The most important factor you need to consider is whether the restaurant has their own "molting pens". This right from the water to your plate freshness is paramount and cannot be overstated. Obviously the restaurant has to have a waterside location to have them. Call the restaurnats to make sure. Cantler's does have their own molting pens, but it is incredibly popular/crowded place 7 days a week. If you go there, you must arrive before noon. After that, it just keeps getting busier and more crowded until closing time. Again, call ahead before you make any decision.
May 27th, 2004, 06:06 AM
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Ellen, some thoughts on some of the restaurants on your list:
Obryckie's is a good, traditional Maryland crab house; however, they do theirs with a peppery spice mix rather than the expected Old Bay. Their crabs usually come from elsewhere.
Carroll's Creek is not a crab house at all, but a relatively pricey (though casual) seafood restaurant with good food. Great views of Annapolis -- if it's not too hot, ask to sit outside. Expect a wait on weekends; they do not take reservations. Hurricane Isabel pretty much trashed the Annapolis and Eastport waterfronts, and Carroll's Creek used the disruption as an opportunity to renovate -- call to make sure they have opened back up.
(P.S. To those not in the know, if you order tuna tartare at Carroll's Creek, it is indeed RAW. I saw a fellow diner order the tartare and send it back because it wasn't cooked; I nearly offered to take it off her hands...)
Cantler's Riverside - This is a classic. I just went last weekend, and watched the crabs coming in off the watermen's boats (i.e. the crabs are local). We ordered a half-dozen larges (they were going for $65/dozen; they also have two bigger sizes) and they were heavy and full of meat - yum! Make sure you get directions, because it can ge tough to get there. Better yet, go by boat. Also, try going at off-peak times because it can get very crowded.
Obryckie's is a good, traditional Maryland crab house; however, they do theirs with a peppery spice mix rather than the expected Old Bay. Their crabs usually come from elsewhere.
Carroll's Creek is not a crab house at all, but a relatively pricey (though casual) seafood restaurant with good food. Great views of Annapolis -- if it's not too hot, ask to sit outside. Expect a wait on weekends; they do not take reservations. Hurricane Isabel pretty much trashed the Annapolis and Eastport waterfronts, and Carroll's Creek used the disruption as an opportunity to renovate -- call to make sure they have opened back up.
(P.S. To those not in the know, if you order tuna tartare at Carroll's Creek, it is indeed RAW. I saw a fellow diner order the tartare and send it back because it wasn't cooked; I nearly offered to take it off her hands...)
Cantler's Riverside - This is a classic. I just went last weekend, and watched the crabs coming in off the watermen's boats (i.e. the crabs are local). We ordered a half-dozen larges (they were going for $65/dozen; they also have two bigger sizes) and they were heavy and full of meat - yum! Make sure you get directions, because it can ge tough to get there. Better yet, go by boat. Also, try going at off-peak times because it can get very crowded.
May 27th, 2004, 06:21 AM
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Inlet Cafe, Highlands, New Jersey next to Sandy Hook. It also has good steamers and a great view: http://www.inletcafe.com/
Now you made me hungry!
Keith
Now you made me hungry!
Keith
May 27th, 2004, 06:25 AM
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Hi again
As a native Marylander I will hope to offer some soft shell/hard shell blue crab insights.
First - right now we're are getting most of our crabs from around Louisiana as the Chesapeake bay crabs are not really in yet.
When I prepare soft shells I dredge them in flour add a bit of old bay (crab is so sweet that a little seasoning helps) and saute in butter. And yes, they must be alive when you clean and prepare them for cooking. They don't move around much when they're iced down and can appear to be dead but they'll move when you really check them. If the crabs are NOT alive don't cook them cause it won't taste good. This is also true for steaming hard shells.
When you clean soft shells you want to remove the lungs and all the little mustard and then take a scissors and cut off the face. I know, sounds terrible. Also soft shell crabs are only available when the blue hard shell crab is molting and gets rid of its hard shell.
Ellen - in reference to these -
Seaside Seafood (glen burnie?) great crabs - even better crab imperial
-G & M - I went there for crab imperials and sorry I didn't care for the filler - toooo thick!! no crab picking
-O'Byckies - always good crabs, crab cakes, and crab imperial
-Carrolls Creek - great waterfront dining - no crab picking
-Murphy's - don't know where it is
-Cantlers Crab House - good old Maryland crab house
-Riordans - nice Annapolis bar/restaurant
Blue crab is not really like stone crab claws - with stone crab claws they catch the crab and remove one claw and then return the crab to the water.
Hope this helps
Ellen
As a native Marylander I will hope to offer some soft shell/hard shell blue crab insights.
First - right now we're are getting most of our crabs from around Louisiana as the Chesapeake bay crabs are not really in yet.
When I prepare soft shells I dredge them in flour add a bit of old bay (crab is so sweet that a little seasoning helps) and saute in butter. And yes, they must be alive when you clean and prepare them for cooking. They don't move around much when they're iced down and can appear to be dead but they'll move when you really check them. If the crabs are NOT alive don't cook them cause it won't taste good. This is also true for steaming hard shells.
When you clean soft shells you want to remove the lungs and all the little mustard and then take a scissors and cut off the face. I know, sounds terrible. Also soft shell crabs are only available when the blue hard shell crab is molting and gets rid of its hard shell.
Ellen - in reference to these -
Seaside Seafood (glen burnie?) great crabs - even better crab imperial
-G & M - I went there for crab imperials and sorry I didn't care for the filler - toooo thick!! no crab picking
-O'Byckies - always good crabs, crab cakes, and crab imperial
-Carrolls Creek - great waterfront dining - no crab picking
-Murphy's - don't know where it is
-Cantlers Crab House - good old Maryland crab house
-Riordans - nice Annapolis bar/restaurant
Blue crab is not really like stone crab claws - with stone crab claws they catch the crab and remove one claw and then return the crab to the water.
Hope this helps
Ellen
May 27th, 2004, 07:24 AM
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Ellen Griswold, the only real way to get to Cantler's by boat is if you have access to a privately owned boat. If you do, you leave the Severn River (Annapolis), turn north into the Chesapeake, go west into Whitehall Bay, then enter Mill Creek (follow the marks - it's quite shoaly). Cantler's is on the southern side of Mill Creek - you won't be able to miss it. They have a dock with room for about 10 boats.
I don't know whether there are places to rent a boat in Annapolis, or whether anyone would take you on an excursion.
I don't know whether there are places to rent a boat in Annapolis, or whether anyone would take you on an excursion.
May 27th, 2004, 11:20 AM
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We generally have steamed crabs (and cream of crab soup) at Bo Brook's - now located on the water in the Canton section of Baltimore. (I am sure they have soft shell crabs too but I am a wuss and don't eat them.)They are consistently good and the view is great. Angelina's in northeast Baltimore is not scenic at all but has really good crab cakes.
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