Text 14123, 102 rader
Skriven 2007-04-17 09:44:00 av MICHAEL LOO (1:123/140)
     Kommentar till en text av DALE SHIPP
Ärende: Picnic stuff 382
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 DS> I looked at the Crab Shanty's web page.   They imply that the
 DS> Maryland crabs, the Texas crabs and the Louisiana crabs are all the
 DS> same variety.  In order to get the size they need, they have to go
 DS> with Texas and Louisiana -- or so they say.

They're all the same species, but that doesn't mean they're the
same! I have found that the cooler the water the better the
shellfish - this goes for crabs, lobsters, and bivalves. Not
that Gulf shellfish are bad, just that the native ones, if
they're available at a comparable price, are better. It does
become harder and harder to get Maryland crab, though someone
told me that the fisheries (crabberies?) are open again.

    The web page does not
 DS> mention whole crabs, but I'm told that they do them at prices from
 DS> $48 to $72 per dozen depending on size.

[gulp] ... considering that a normal person can eat a dozen mediums
or half a dozen jumbos.

 DS> We have not been back to Timbuktu since we were there with the two
 DS> of you several years ago.

That was a disappointment, wasn't it. What I've read indicates it
might be worth a revisit, but doing a comparison crabcake tasting
of G&M, Hellas, and Timbuktu would be costly.

 DS> That could be done at Crab Shanty, and probably at the two dives
 DS> (Scooter's and Jims-hideaway).  Most likely (according to web page)
 DS> also at Kaufman's.   

Kaufman's may be worth an investigation, as might Jim's.
I wonder how many of us would really like the crab-cracking
experience. I always enjoy it, but just a few crabs would be
fine for me; I can fill up on other things.

 DS> Harris is only a bit further than Annapolis.   The traffic jam we
 DS> hit that one time started before Annapolis.

Truth, but (see below).

 DS> IMO, the atmosphere runs a poor third and commands little value
 DS> added. 

I think that we are not far off from each other here, as I
like food quality and bang for the buck as much as anyone;
I do not reject the value of atmosphere, though. But then
a good atmosphere can be anything from candlelight and white
linens to butcher paper, crab hammers, and pitchers of brew.

 -=> Dale Shipp said to Carol Bryant <=-

 DS> Looking at their web page, they have a few seafood platters that
 DS> could be good -- but I have doubts as to the breadth of their menu
 DS> for those folks who don't want seafood.   I am suspicious of a 16
 DS> oz T-bone steak for $10.69.  It conjures up an image of a steak I
 DS> had at Double T diner -- which was not very good.

It may or may not be good. I went to Hellas on steak night once
and had a lousy steak, but when Carol's old boss Greg showed up,
later the same evening, he had a pretty good one. The problem with
steaks at nonsteak places is that they are very unpredictable. I
think that Bottom of the Bay also has fried chicken and stuff like
that, as well as your standard assortment of sandwiches. It also
fits well with Clean Dave's idea of a cartoon set.

 DS> The important features are good fresh steamed crabs, good
 DS> crabcakes, and good "other" menu items for those who don't care for
 DS> either of the above.
 DS> What did the two of you have?  Have you been back?

Forget what Carol had, but I had a fried fisherman's platter,
which was an enormous amount of pretty good food at a not so
enormous price. The crabcake was not made from native crab,
but the oysters were excellent. Beer was cheapo domestic
bellywash but was $7 for half a gallon.

 CB> French fries and hushpuppies and coleslaw for $28.95.  Here's the
 CB> website if you want to check it out:
 CB> http://www.bottomofthebay.com/home/ 
 DS> I'd seen that -- That price is the same as AYCE crabs at Kaufman's.

We can check things out either separately or together, depending
on scheduling. Kaufmann's, Jim's, Bottom of the Bay, Shanty.
A sizable investment there. Better make sure people are really
interested in the crab feast experience first, so it's worthwhile
doing the research.

 CB> But to get to Harris you have to cross the Bay Bridge on Rt. 50, and
 CB> it's Rt. 50 that backs up.  If folks want to go to Annapolis, there are
 CB> many ways to get there other than Rt.50.  
 DS> The traffic jam was on the route we'd have normally taken to get to
 DS> Annapolis. Since we were coming from New Carrolton that time, there
 DS> was not really any other viable route.

The advantage of Annapolis traffic-wise is that you can bail
out of US 50 at various points from Davidsonville to Parole and
then get there by back roads; but once you're on that bridge,
that's that, you're committed to the Eastern Shore.
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