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| Chesapeake Blue Crabs |
When we took our first born
to the neighborhood 4th of July parade, we met many neighbors. The most
memorable ones however have since grown to become close friends. We formed a
"play group" that started during our maternity leaves. The 3 months
of lunches and learning how to raise a child exchange programs happened
spontaneously. 3 children turned into a group of 8 who have known each other
since they were a few days old. They became like brothers and sisters. We often
have play dates, happy hours, potluck dinners, etc. One tradition we created is
the annual crab feast.
All of us, unknowingly, came with a specialty in the kitchen. One of the parents, Mr. "Dave", born and raised along the Potomac River, is known for his steamed Blue crabs. The River borders Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia, connecting Great Falls to the Chesapeake Bay outlet. Mr. Dave harvests the Chesapeake Blue Crab from the Maine Ave. seafood market in Washington, DC. For those of you who have not been there, imagine about 20 open-air seafood stalls, with sellers shouting, enticing you to buy their seafood. Mr. Dave introduced us to appreciate the river. A boat ride with the family was an experience and yes, you can swim in the Potomac! The seafood market can be reached by boat or crossing the 14th street Bridge into DC, from Virginia. Chesapeake Blue Crabs are sold by the bushel, crawling and snapping. Getting crab during May and June means that the crab’s shells are still thin, easy to crack and has lots of moisture, according to Mr. Dave.
All of us, unknowingly, came with a specialty in the kitchen. One of the parents, Mr. "Dave", born and raised along the Potomac River, is known for his steamed Blue crabs. The River borders Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia, connecting Great Falls to the Chesapeake Bay outlet. Mr. Dave harvests the Chesapeake Blue Crab from the Maine Ave. seafood market in Washington, DC. For those of you who have not been there, imagine about 20 open-air seafood stalls, with sellers shouting, enticing you to buy their seafood. Mr. Dave introduced us to appreciate the river. A boat ride with the family was an experience and yes, you can swim in the Potomac! The seafood market can be reached by boat or crossing the 14th street Bridge into DC, from Virginia. Chesapeake Blue Crabs are sold by the bushel, crawling and snapping. Getting crab during May and June means that the crab’s shells are still thin, easy to crack and has lots of moisture, according to Mr. Dave.
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| Steamed Blue Crabs |
The basic rule of thumb is to cook with an outdoor stove and a large steamer
pot. Mr. D stacks about 15-20 crabs in the steamer, sprinkle lightly with Old
bay seasoning, and steam about 30 min. The method of steaming allows the crabs
to maintain its sweetness without being infused or diluted with another flavor.
Steaming seals the juice of the crabs in, making them succulent. When you taste
the crab, its true sweetness shines. If you want to use condiments, the
combination of Old Bay seasoning, lime, melted butter and Sriracha chili sauce,
are more than suffice.
The secret to a successful crab feast in addition to good Chesapeake Blue crabs and a great chef is a group of friends to crack your crab with.
With boiled corn, cold beer and the kids playing in the background, the Blue Crab tradition will continue. I hope you find yourself a playgroup...trust me, it's better than any dinner club...and more.
Cheers!
Teera
The secret to a successful crab feast in addition to good Chesapeake Blue crabs and a great chef is a group of friends to crack your crab with.
With boiled corn, cold beer and the kids playing in the background, the Blue Crab tradition will continue. I hope you find yourself a playgroup...trust me, it's better than any dinner club...and more.
Cheers!
Teera
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