Does slacking off one day from the blog make me a slogger? Sorry, faithful readers, busy days at the NJ and my partner in crime, the always eloquent Eric Ruth, is on vacation this week. I'm sure he's doing some major investigative food journalism which hopefully involves a beach and a frosty beverage.So, did you read Molly Murray's story today about crabbing? Somehow, I've let the whole summer go by without once picking hardshell crabs in a crab shack.
How did this happen? I love the smell of Old Bay in the morning. Life doesn't get any better than sitting at table wrapped in brown paper and picking steaming hot crabs until your fingers are covered with little cuts and burn from all the salty, spicy seasoning. Heck, I don't even mind, much, the greenish yellow mustard (crab fat). And I know better than to eat the devil fingers (the spongy and unedible gills.)
My favorite side order with crabs? More crabs, please.
And washing it all down with an icy cold draft, or two, or three, is pure heaven. (Did you notice that the great crab houses always seem to have country music playing?)
Regular mallet tappers know that the best crabs - i.e. the fattest, heaviest crabs - can always be found in September. This weekend, I'm determined to gather the gang and feast on crabs.
Let the shells go a flyin'!
Where should we go? My heart usually belongs to Lazy Susan's in Lewes or The Tap Room in Chesapeake City, Md. The Hill Top off Pa. 41 near Avondale, Pa., will do in a pinch as will Lestardo's in New Castle. Kelly's Tavern in Port Penn is another favorite haunt, though you can't bring your kids there. They only have a bar license. Haven't been to Boondocks or Sambo's Tavern - another no kid establishment- both in Leipsic, in a few years. Still worth a visit?
Spill your secrets. What is the best crabhouse around?
Comment, comment, comment.
3 comments:
I've been eating crabs since I was able to hold a mallet in my hand, and through all the summers of my life, I can't remember where I have had better crabs than SAMBO'S. While they may not always be LARGE, they are mostly SWEET and TASTY. Kelly's also serves pretty consistently good crabs, but the seasoning doesn't compare to Sambo's. As far as any crabs north of the canal, Lestardo's usually has good ones in the summer, you'll just pay a fortune! I have also heard that the crabs at the Howard Hotel in Elkton have been pretty good this past year. Wherever you go, if they are full and have lots of YELLOW, you've lucked out!
Canterbury Crew Member!
We have been eating crabs at Wiso's in Delaware City for years. The owners recently divorced and she got the restaurant, so now it's Kathy's Crab House, but it's still Wiso's to us fans. Heavy crabs, Rolling Rock on draft, tasty corn nuggets and hushpuppies to go with your hardshells...it's great
Nothing beats Old Mill in Delmar, but you better get there early, or you're going to do some waitin.
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