It was a cold and rainy October day, and an old college friend and I decided to get together to wind down the crab season with a bang. It had been many years since we last saw each other, and could not wait to see him and catch up. As it turned out my college friend (Steve) and his wife (Eiling) drove up to Maryland from Virginia. I was worried about the bad spate of weather we were having, but Steve reassured me that he “would drive thru rain or snow” to eat crabs…Steve was always a funny guy.
Having lived in Maryland now for the past 35 years, we, native Marylanders know when the time is right to eat crabs. Nope, it’s not summertime as many would believe, but between October and November when the crabs fatten themselves up and move deep into the reeds and the warmer waters of the Bay to lay their eggs and pass the winter. Many local crab houses sell both male and female crabs. Usually, the meat of the female crab ends up packaged as crabmeat, and the males are sold for premium prices in seafood restaurants. Knowing the troubles of the Chesapeake Bay over the past two decades, I am not a supporter of harvesting female crabs for food. Rather, the female crabs should be allowed to replenish the Bay each season, so that local watermen do not lose their livelihoods that they and their families depend upon. Unfortunately, the politics of the local government have not caught up to that realization and the lives of these families continue to hang in the balance. As of this writing, female crabs are still being sold for consumption however I do understand that there is some discussions about instituting a moratorium on the female crab harvest….we’ll see.
Anyway, back to the food…
On this cold and rainy day, we all braved the weather and crossed the Bay Bridge to get to Harris’s Crab House in Grasonville on the Eastern Shore. Although the views of the expansive Bay were cloaked in a thick fog, we soon arrived in Grasonville where the charm of the Eastern Shore shone brightly. When we arrived at the restaurant about 4:30pm, we were lucky to get the last window table. Although it was pouring down with rain, the views of the Bay from our table did not disappoint. I remember Harris’s Crab House years ago when I first moved to Maryland. It was a much smaller, very casual place where everyone gathered for their all-you can-eat crabs and shrimp. Over the years, the place has been remodeled and is truly a class act. They do not take reservations, so get there early for a table. For many years, they did not take credit cards, but they do now. Our waitress, Barbara, came over and we ordered a few appetizers to start, namely onion rings, crab dip and alligator skewers. Alligator, you might ask! Alligator is not something Maryland is known for, but why travel to the Bayou when it’s right in front of you. ..I was really excited to try it.
When the appetizers arrived, the onion rings were battered, not breaded, and large, hot and crispy ($4.50 per basket). The crab dip was disappointing because I wanted it baked in a dish, hot out of the oven and gooey with cheese along with the requisite crusty bread to dip. But it arrived in small little bread bowls, where the soft part of the bread had been removed and filled with crab dip ($11.50 for 3 small bowls). The alligator skewers ($12.50 for 6pc) were interesting. ..the tail meat was marinated in mustard, garlic and hot sauce and came with a slightly spicy chipotle mayo on the side which rounded out the flavor. The texture was reminiscent of chicken , however every now and then you would get a piece that was mealy…overall, not bad for my first experience with alligator.
Finally, the crabs arrive…and although the prices were high (seasonal), we enjoyed every last huge, fat, juicy crab. The meat was as it should be, moist, sweet and slightly spicy…we were in heaven. Along with the food, the company and the conversation were also wonderful!
If you would like to learn more about the life of a Maryland blue crab, check out this very interesting link
www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/recreational/articles/bluecrablhmgt.html
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