Feeling Crabby ?

[Ed Kennell 38,022]

Another week on the Delaware Bay.

 

 

 

 

The crabs cooperated.

 

 

 

Social Distancing... not a problem on Slaughter Beach, Delaware.        This is the only creature I ran into all day.

[rmaynard 15,427]

Maryland Blue Crabs are the best. I miss not being able to visit some of our favorite places this year,  what with the wife's back problems, covid-19 restrictions, and just an overall lousy year.

Maybe 2021 will be better. Looks like you guys are having a right fine time.

[WHX?? 48,779]

Thanks for taking us along Ed! 

[wallfish 16,985]

Maryland crab cakes are the best.

Haven't cracked and eaten boiled blue claws with some old bay seasoning since I was a kid. 

If you rub the crab's belly from front to back they go into a dormant state and will just lay there still. A guy brought a bushel into the bar one night to cook so I did a few and left them sitting on top of the bar upside down. Talk about a surprise when someone picks it up thinking it's dead. OUCH when that pinches! Kind of a stupid prank but it sure was funny!

[Ed Kennell 38,022]

2 minutes ago, wallfish said:

 

 

If you rub the crab's belly from front to back they  will just lay there still. 

Works for me.

[Skwerl58 702]

Looks like great times and memories. I haven't seen a horseshoe crab in years. 

[Ed Kennell 38,022]

4 minutes ago, Skwerl58 said:

 I haven't seen a horseshoe crab in years. 

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=slaughter+beach+horseshoe+crabs&view=detail&mid=2ADB66C730E61E3378712ADB66C730E61E337871&FORM=VIRE&PC=ASTS&cc=US&setlang=en-US&PC=ASTS&cvid=c548e15f9c6a43398180f18774e0d6b0&qs=SW&nclid=1F1FD4E3EC48A82549332DB0C7C57147&ts=1599252866887

[rmaynard 15,427]

24 minutes ago, wallfish said:

Maryland crab cakes are the best.

Yes they are.

 

I'm going to say the word Maryland a lot here.

 

I have been to Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and any state that is in a reasonably close proximity to Maryland or supposed to be a "seafood" state like North Carolina, Massachusetts, Maine, etc. Even when they advertise "Maryland Crab Cakes"  they ARE NOT. There is something different about a Maryland Crab Cake in Maryland. However, not all Maryland Crab Cakes in Maryland are the same. A true Maryland Crab Cake should be ALL jumbo lump crab meat with little to no filler.

 

When at the next Wheel Horse Show in Pennsylvania, if anyone wants to know where to go to get aREAL Maryland Crab Cake within 45 minutes of the show, just ask me.

[Ed Kennell 38,022]

3 minutes ago, rmaynard said:

Yes they are.

 

I'm going to say the word Maryland a lot here.

 

I have been to Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and any state that is in a reasonably close proximity to Maryland or supposed to be a "seafood" state like North Carolina, Massachusetts, Maine, etc. Even when they advertise "Maryland Crab Cakes"  they ARE NOT. There is something different about a Maryland Crab Cake in Maryland. However, not all Maryland Crab Cakes in Maryland are the same. A true Maryland Crab Cake should be ALL jumbo lump crab meat with little to no filler.

 

When at the next Wheel Horse Show in Pennsylvania, if anyone wants to know where to go to get aREAL Maryland Crab Cake within 45 minutes of the show, just ask me.

 

 

I have to differ a bit with you and John , Bob.     Reason being, you probably have never eaten one of Mrs Ks crab cakes. They are  all made with my own hand caught hand picked back fin meat from Delaware crabs.     

I have crabbed the Delaware  and  Chesapeake Bays for over 50 years.     All the crabs are excellent fare steamed ( I only use J O # 2 seasoning) and make excellent crab cakes.

Some observations I have made over the years .

Chesapeake crabs grow faster than  Delaware  producing larger crabs. Due to this faster growth  rate, they go through many shell changes resulting in cleaner prettier crab shells, but also create more stages where the shells are thin and not completely filled with meat.

Delaware crabs grow slow, are small and the shells are dark and ugly.  But they are always full with rock hard shells.    Just my experience.

 

 

[rmaynard 15,427]

6 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

I have to differ a bit with you and John , Bob.     Reason being, you probably have never eaten one of Mrs Ks crab cakes. They are  all made with my own hand caught hand picked back fin meat from Delaware crabs.     .

Ed, we will have to agree to disagree.  No, I have never had one of Mrs. K's crab cakes, and I am sure they are absolutely delicious. However, I am going to throw down a challenge to you. When this Covid-19 thing is over, I would like to invite you to join me at a local Westminster, MD restaurant called Rock Salt Grille (45 minutes from Arendtsville), to enjoy one of these.

 

 

I admit that I am biased, and I'm sure you are as well. 

 

[Ed Kennell 38,022]

Thanks Bob, that is a great looking meal.      But no matter how great it tastes, I would never say it is better than Mrs. Ks.    I'm way too old to look for a new cook.      

[rmaynard 15,427]

I hear that. Far be it for me to ever let a crab cake come between a perfect couple. 

[wallfish 16,985]

OK you old coots. You guys bring some of each to the big show and I'll judge them! 

Whoo Hooo!

 

[rmaynard 15,427]

@Ed Kennell  Ed, you've probably mentioned it in prior posts, but where do you stay? Does your family have a place there?

[shallowwatersailor 3,213]

I agree with you about Maryland Blue Crabs and where not to bother buying them, Bob. It befuddled this Midwesterner the first time I ordered Blue Crabs at a MD restaurant. The question was " a dozen 64s or 72s?" Huh? I ordered the 72s.    By the way, the best Soft Shell sandwich I ever had was at a waterfront restaurant in Havre De Grace.

 

Down here in VA I miss my Chicago Italian Beef (dipped with sweet peppers), Vienna Chicago-style Hot Dogs (no ketchup!), White Castle mini white bites, and Culvers Pot Roast sandwich with WI Cheese Curds. Now add in MD Blue Crabs!

[Ed Kennell 38,022]

5 hours ago, rmaynard said:

@Ed Kennell  Ed, you've probably mentioned it in prior posts, but where do you stay? Does your family have a place there?

Bob, Mrs Ks family has been vacationing at Slaughter Beach, Delaware since the mid 50s.   My FIL would rent a beach house every summer for 4-8 weeks for his family.

After his death, I continued the tradition of renting a beach houses there every summer.    I did own a 35' travel trailer  on a permanent site for about 20 years, but I sold that in 2017 and went back to renting beach houses.    It is becoming very difficult to find reasonable rentals  that are large enough to accommodate the family that has grown to 18-20.

[rmaynard 15,427]

Thanks. For years we have been going to a beach house on the Outer Banks, NC. It's terribly expensive, but with the cost spread over 3 or 4 families, it's more reasonable. Earlier this year though, my son and his wife came into the opportunity to buy her Godfather's townhouse in Ocean City, MD. After some much needed upgrades (built in the 1980's) it looks like we might be spending more vacations a little closer to home.