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Post by RickW on Mar 19, 2009 20:30:21 GMT -5
Fisherman friend phoned this afternoon - asked if we wanted some crab for dinner tonight. Dropped off three live dungeness crabs half an hour ago. They have been executed, cleaned, and we are awaiting a friend. We have a nice bottle of prosecco in the fridge, (J, you folk know how to make a nice bubble,) and cold Guinness.
Every time I get all whiny about life, fine things happen.
For those of you who have never tried dungeness, those crappy little blue things you east coasters dig out of the sand wouldn't rate as appetizers.... ;D ...yummmmm......
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Post by Village Idiot on Mar 19, 2009 20:34:08 GMT -5
That sounds absolutely wonderful. Can I come over next time?
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Post by RickW on Mar 19, 2009 20:35:00 GMT -5
NO! mine, mine, mine, mine....  |
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Post by Village Idiot on Mar 19, 2009 20:43:10 GMT -5
I've done those little blue crabs from the Chesapeake many times, and they are good. Lots of work, but good. I can't imagine how good those dungeness must be. Is there a season on those?
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Post by Supertramp78 on Mar 19, 2009 21:16:41 GMT -5
I've had dungeness crab. Nice and large and unfortunately lacking in a real crab flavor. On the other hand, gulf coast blue crab is the best.   I have a video series from the CIA (no not that one, the Culinary Institute of America) where they make the claim, that I completely agree with, that the gulf blue crab is the sweetest tasting carb there is. Down side? They are small and to get your fill it takes a LOT of them and that makes them expensive pound per pound. You can fill a pretty good size plate with a dungeness crab. Not so a gulf blue crab. Blue crabs are about 5 inches wide. Dungeness crabs are from 8 to 10 inches wide. |
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Post by Cornflake on Mar 19, 2009 22:27:00 GMT -5
Crabs are one of the very few foods I don't like, but life is still fine.
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Post by t-bob on Mar 19, 2009 23:06:00 GMT -5
Alaska King Crab's pretty damn good, but nothing beats a Northeast lobster, IMHO.
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Post by Supertramp78 on Mar 19, 2009 23:38:15 GMT -5
Nothing beats a good prime rib either but I thought we were talking crabs.
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Post by epaul on Mar 19, 2009 23:45:07 GMT -5
NO! mine, mine, mine, mine.... The seagulls from Finding Nemo? |
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Post by Marshall on Mar 20, 2009 0:14:27 GMT -5
Crabs are one of the very few foods I don't like, but life is still fine. Desert crabs just aren't very good. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2009 0:18:08 GMT -5
I grew up about a 35 minute drive from the Dungeness spit. I guess you always prefer what you grew up with, but I'd take a dungeness over a blue any day (or over an Alaskan king crab), but I love all of them. I had a softshell crab sandwich when I was back east once, and I must admit that was one of my mouth's happiest moments. All the crab, none of the work!
Anyhow, enjoy them Rick. It brought back good memories of home where we'd eat crab on the bulkhead and chuck the shells out on the beach.
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Post by John B on Mar 20, 2009 0:18:38 GMT -5
Nor are seaport crabs.
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Post by jdd on Mar 20, 2009 5:34:26 GMT -5
I read something recently, I think about the crashing population of crabs, in, I think, the Chesapeake Bay. Something like 5-10% of what they once were, and there was some controversy about intro-ing some other (asian?) crab... Anybody know anything about this?
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Post by RickW on Mar 20, 2009 9:14:34 GMT -5
No, VI, no season on Dungeness. There are size restrictions, and you can only eat the males.
It was absolutely delicious. Little garlic butter, some crusty bread, and some nice wine. Wow. Then the Canucks shut out St. Louis Blues. Perfect.
Blue crabs - schmue crabs. Can't hold a candle. Half a dungeness is a meal, boy. Lobster is okay, lots of seafood I like more.
There's a green crab, I think, is the problem one? It's on both coasts - they swim and spread themselves well, grow fast, and prey on the young of other crab species. Large concern on both coasts, I think. But I thought the problem with the blue crabs was habitat destruction and the pollution.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2009 10:05:31 GMT -5
When my Dad was well, he would put out his crab pots at Dungeness Bay. We would feast on Dungeness crab, fresh warm French bread , salad and a nice bottle of wine. Good food and family what more could one ask for! :}
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2009 10:16:56 GMT -5
Having been born & raised on the Chesapeake (literally - I swam before I walked) I am shocked and disgusted that ANYONE would dare compare any other tasteless crustacean to the noble, peerless Chesapeake Bay blue crab. Natives of the Land Of Pleasant Living can tell when a blue crab is imported from the gulf. Abushel of crab, a keg of Natty Boh & the O's on a summer night...
BTW "Chesapeake" is a Susquehanook word for "Wide River With Many Hard Shelled Fishes".
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Post by dickt on Mar 20, 2009 10:49:52 GMT -5
Having been born & raised on the Chesapeake (literally - I swam before I walked) I am shocked and disgusted that ANYONE would dare compare any other tasteless crustacean to the noble, peerless Chesapeake Bay blue crab. Natives of the Land Of Pleasant Living can tell when a blue crab is imported from the gulf. Abushel of crab, a keg of Natty Boh & the O's on a summer night... BTW "Chesapeake" is a Susquehanook word for "Wide River With Many Hard Shelled Fishes". +1 on all of the above! And they taste best if you caught 'em yourself with a chicken gizzard or a fish head on a string and a crab net. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2009 10:58:46 GMT -5
I wuz born to chicken-neck!!!
BTW, JDD is right- the crab population has crashed to near-extinction levels, primarily due to pollution. The oysters ("arsters" in the local "wootermouf" dialect) had a parasite (dmso, I think) that decimated the population - they have begun laying seed beds of imported oysters for years now. The last time friends were in the area bushels of crab were selling for + $150. I remember paying $15 for a bushel & griping we were ripped off... When I was a kid, local unimproved roads were paved with oyster shells.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2009 11:17:14 GMT -5
BTW, for those who enjoy that kind of reading, there's a book called "Beautiful Swimmers" by William Warner that explores the whole ecosystem of the blue crab in the Chesapeake.
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Post by iamjohnne on Mar 20, 2009 19:05:58 GMT -5
Don't Wait Up for the Shrimpboat Mama, 'Cause Papa's Comin' Home With Crabs.
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