A Maryland Tradition

I am officially home. You want to know why? I had crabs tonight. Delicious Beautiful Maryland Blue Crabs. Steamed to perfection doused with Old Bay and served with melted butter and vinegar. It was one of the best meals I have had, in basically forever, since the last time I had crabs.

Now to explain the tradition of crabs in St. Marys County. First you have your choice of about 10000 seafood places in the area, however you must be careful when you would like to have your crab feast as many are closed Monday and Tuesday and sometimes even Wednesday. So you decide on your place, today it was Captain Leonard's. Personally my family's favorite. You walk in and if you are from the area you probably know the hostess, the waitress and the cook, which was no different for tonight. As you are seated at your table, you may ask where is the table cloth? This table isn't ready? Actually it is. Your table is covered with brown paper, with newspaper underneath. Bring your own crayons and such to color with. As a kid my mom always had pens and markers and such, which led to tick tac toe and the dot game.

Next to the food, you really don't need a menu. You know what you came for and you know how to order. "A dozen steamed crabs" That's it. Well maybe you get a beer or for the younger crowd sweet tea or lemonade. Or maybe a cup of creamed crab soup. But that's it. So as you wait for food, and your coloring on the table, you may look around to see the decor of the classy restaurant you are eating in. Behind you the waitress is cleaning the table, not busing, cleaning, literally taking everything off the table, including the cups, silverware, plates, everything including the table cloth right into a trash can. Love it, enjoy it. Surrounding you are southern accents, anchors and ropes adorning the walls, and pictures of boats and sailors. Again, Love it, enjoy it.

The crabs arrive. A heaping pile of crabs, now red from the heat, dowsed in old bay, also on the plate, a couple of wooden hammers, and some little knives. So you grab one and say to yourself, how the hell do you eat this? Well lucky I am here.

Liz's Handy Dandy Guide to Eating a Maryland Crab
-Flip the crab over - Place your fingernail into the little point and pull back - Then Put your finger in between the back and front and lift of the top shell - Then Break off the eyes and remaining legs - Following this, scoop out the mustard(guts) and the lungs - Then break the body in half, so you have to separate sides - Next take your knife and cut the sides in half- This will reveal luscious meat so good you think you have gone to heaven.

Now you have discovered the true goodness of the Maryland Blue Crab. The only way to know for sure you have throughly gotten your fill is if your lips are tingly and burning from the Old Bay. Wasn't that fun? Haha not as fun for you as it was for me tonight. Because you just had to read about it. My suggestion, everyone come to my house one weekend, and we will have a crab feast. Crabs, beer, games, and a bonfire. Sound good? Let me know. We can caravan.

I love St. Mary's County!