Call it the G & M Effect. This was actually first pointed out to me by chowsearch, although he didn't call it that. One reason G & M's crab cake has gotten so much press over the years is not only because it's good but because the Washington Post first called it a find, and then other media went there whenever they were making up "best" lists because you have to start somewhere, and now even national publications like Where the Locals Eat give it their "Best Crab Cake" award when they probably haven't tried many others.

It's not just G & M. The same crab cakes turn up again and again in the media best lists because you can only try a certain number, and you have to try the ones that people are talking about, or they'll wonder why those crab cakes weren't part of the story. ...

Continue reading "Of crab cakes and pizza" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)
                    

Of course, the obvious one is don't mess with somebody else's favorite crab cake; but less obvious is that there are many more places that have excellent crab cakes around here than I thought. Out of well over 100 comments on my two crab cake entries, I thought this one from Mike was the most insightful:

Kudos for taking on a topic that I suspect has as much to do with personal history and loyalty than culinary reason.

I also hadn't thought much about the role of the media in all this, and how much a crab cake's reputation becomes self-perpetuating. I mean, who would think to order a grilled crab cake at Sip & Bite, even though it's only $6.50? Richard tells us it's better than G & M's and Timbuktu's. ...

 (Sun archives)

Continue reading "Crab cake lessons I have learned" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
                    

Call me a coward, but in the interest of harmony, I'm going to give you three lists here. One is going to be Top Ten Best Crab Cakes, Readers Choice. The next will be Top Ten Best Crab Cakes, Recommendations Based on My Own Long-Term Experience and Other Sun Foodies'. These are the ones, apologies to Robert, I would try if my rich uncle came to town and was willing to pay while I took him around on a crab cake odyssey.

Finally, the list that may be the most useful to true crab cake aficionados who already know that Faidley's has great crab cakes and want to think outside the box: The Top Ten Best Crab Cakes I've Had in the Past Year.

Here we go: ... 

(Jed Kirschbaum/Sun Photographer)

Continue reading "Top Ten Best Crab Cakes" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 5:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (73)
                    

My daughter called me last night to ridicule me for my post on crab cakes. She pointed out my cowardice by saying that I usually respond to at least some of the comments under an entry, but on this one, ...

Continue reading "Crab cake wars" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 2:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
                    

 
I'm feeling a little wild and crazy today, so I've decided to tackle the Dreaded Crab Cake Question. As you can imagine, any restaurant critic in Maryland is constantly asked where to find the best crab cake. This isn't a question that's easy to answer.

Do you like crab cakes that are nothing more than lump crab meat ? Or is the right filler important? How about seasoning? Do you like them broiled or do you think a true crab cake has to be fried, even if it isn't so good for you?

The other problem is that I may have been to the restaurant that has the best crab cake, in fact I probably have because I've been to so many, but not ordered the crab cake. It's too boring to describe crab cakes week after week in reviews.

All I'm asking of you is...

(Photo courtesy of the Costas Inn) 

Continue reading "The Dreaded Crab Cake Question" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 3:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (59)
                    

No, I'm not going to answer it today. But I thought you'd be interested in how others answer it.

Thanks to Andy Segall for pointing out this article on the subject, which appeared in the travel section of the St. Petersburgh Times this Sunday.

Ten crabcakes. Five days.

Clearly an amateur if that's all she can eat.

It's a fun story, with recipes, and the best part is the scornful comments by (I presume) real Marylanders at the end. After all, what do foreigners -- or should that be furriners? -- know about our local food?

(Andre F. Chung: Sun Photographer)

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)