The comment posted by NJ chick last night under my Top 10 list of crab houses made me realize that the list isn't very useful for visitors. They don't want to be trekking down to Essex to get steamed crabs if they're only here for a weekend. And they don't want to be faced with 10 choices when they don't even know if Canton or Dundalk is closer to their hotel.

So I'm going to suggest three places for tourists. I'm assuming most want to be around the harbor because they always tell me they do. I know regulars don't need this advice, but I need a link to send to the visitors that continually e-mail me with this question. ...

Continue reading "A crab house for tourists" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (35)
Categories: Steamed crabs
        

Just in time for my vacation, I got an e-mail from Crabby Crab Host that makes an excellent guest post. I wish I'd raised some of these issues before, only I thought it was just me being greedy. EL

Living in a crabcentric (pretty good word, huh?) town presents us with a unique set of problems. Fortunately you are here to assist with our most pressing needs -- finding the best steamed crabs, crab cakes, and  settings. However, a real dilemma reared its ugly head the other evening -- steamed crabs etiquette. ...

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Posted by Elizabeth Large at 7:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (35)
Categories: Steamed crabs
        

I admit to being on the lookout for some easy Top 10s for the next few weeks because I'll be on vacation for a week at the end of the month and have a lot going on before then, like my road trip. However, next week's Top 10, of course, will have to be beach-centric. Anyway, I got the following inquiry, which seems to me to be the basis of a good Top 10 if only there were 10 of them.

I can think of one: Ryleigh's Oyster has $2 steamed crabs on Tuesdays. Now you come up with nine others, please.

The e-mail from Glenn: ...

Continue reading "Steamed crab deals" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 7:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Steamed crabs
        

If Baltimoreans have a Holy Grail, I once said in a review, it would be the perfect crab house. 

It's not just the heaviness and sweetness of the crabs and the perfect seasoning they're looking for. Intangibles like atmosphere, water view and old-fashioned charm play a part, too.

Other factors are important. If you have out-of-town visitors who are only here for a day or two, it may be hard to drag them down to Dundalk to tear apart crustaceans, an activity they're dubious about anyway. So you need to know about a crab house near the harbor, where your visitors insist on spending the afternoon.

I don't pretend to have tried every crab house in the area, so this list isn't a definitive one. Feel free to add your favorite by posting below.

Here are my 10: ... 

Continue reading "Top Ten Crab Houses" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (154)
Categories: Steamed crabs, Top Ten Tuesdays
        

Lissa's comment under Welcome to Crab Week raises a couple of important points:

Nice video, although I suspect that the first time I try to pick a crab, it isn't going to look quite like that.

So, what do you drink with crabs if you don't drink alcohol?

First, I forgot to mention in my Welcome that I hope everyone will plan to pick steamed crabs at least once this week, especially if you haven't done it before, and report back on where you went and how you did. Or, if you're an old hand at this, what you think of this year's batch.

Second, good question about the drinks, Lissa. I drink alcohol, but I don't drink beer. (Steamed crabs and a nice vinho verde? I think not.) People who don't drink alcohol usually get pitchers of Coke, but at Mr. Bill's Terrace Inn and probably some other crab houses, you can get pitchers of lemonade, which is my favorite.

(Christopher T. Assaf/Sun photographer)

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 11:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (78)