quote:

Originally posted by jellybear

Softshell Crabs from Costco?You have got to be kidding me!And Yes!Clean those things.

Haha…I doubt they’ve got them out here, unfortunately, but yeah, I clean pretty much everything I get from costco… 🙂

I haven’t had one in years but I used to get a GREAT Soft Shell Sand. at a place called Zelby’s in Belmar, New Jersey. It was a local place with the freshest seafood in town. My Dad and I would order a gallon of steamers and a two Soft shells to go. It was a light batter, fried and served with lemon, tarter or cocktail sauce. Really simple but very good. They had a separate fryer for crabs and fries. The fun part was Zelby’s was across the street from a very touristy place where tourists to the NJ shore, would get dressed up, sit in the heat and wait for a table to pay three times the price for what my friends and family were eating sitting next to our bikes on the boardwalk. It was GREAT!

Thanks for a great memory and a smile for my Dad!

Softshell Crabs from Costco?You have got to be kidding me!And Yes!Clean those things.

I had my first soft shell crab po boy at a roadside place ( sorry, don’t remember the name of the place) on Rt 11 north side of Slidell, LA. Excellent sandwich.

quote:

Originally posted by Roy

Today I had my sixth soft shell crab sandwich of this season here in shoreline Connecticut. Deep fried version, served on toast with lemon and tartar sauce on the side along with the inevitable french fries and cole slaw. I love these things and have been eating them for 55 years since they were introduced to me when I was 5.
I always pull the claws off and eat them first them slather the body with tartar sauce and eat it between the bread like a sandwich with all the green oozings dripping down my hands. Delicious!!
The only thing better is getting a double but that’s getting expensive around here now days. Hard to find under $20. for two.
Where else but southern Ct can you get these seasonal beauties? I never see them up at Cape Cod except in a fancy dancy sauteed dish….good but not the real deal!

Basically, they are served anywhere there are blue crabs. That means anywhere along the coastline from Brownsville Texas to the end of Maine (and maybe into Canada). I know that I have had them in LA, both coasts of FL, Charleston, Baltimore, NY and Mass.

Related question: How long will they last in a deep freeze?

Quite often, people who eat soft shelled crabs don’t even realize they’ve been cleaned. Here in Maryland, as a general rule most cut the face off and scrape the lungs from under the shell prior to cooking. Dusted with self rising flour, seasoned with a little Old Bay, sauteed in butter and served on white bread is the way to go! It’s also a good idea to prick the claws/legs with a fork prior to frying as they tend to pop/snap as they cook.
As for lettuce and tomato? Absolutely… As long as we’re talking a good, fresh from the garden summer tomato!

Yes these things are great! I have only had them when I was in Florida. In Key west I had one at Crabby Dick’s. Sharky’s on The Pier in Venice Florida, made one for me… they have just the crabs on the "Starters" menu.

Nothin’ better than a softshell crab sandwich. We have a Costco near us. I hope they have them there, I’ll buy a couple of boxes. I dip them in self-rising flour, fry them quickly in butter & light olive oil, serve them on plain white bread with a little mayo and a squeeze of lemon juice. One of the finer things on this beautiful planet…

I was in Costco last week and they had boxes of frozen soft shell crabs. Since crab is one of the few seafoods I eat, I was mightily tempted. Has anyone had these?

During the soft shell season I served them every night in various ways at the Black Cow in Hamilton, MA. One Saturday night I had TWO left, not enough for a Sunday special. There were four of us on the line and I suggested that we eat them. My saute cook turned up his nose…."They taste like cardboard." Oh really? So I cleaned them and fixed them and all four of us stood around oohing and aaahing, devouring them.

Before Katrina hit New Orleans we went to Mother’s on Poydras St. We had been there many times before. So this Elvis-looking guy at the door says to me, "Whatcha gonna order?" I said, "Maybe the oyster po ‘boy or the John G with Debris." He whispers in my ear, "Get the soft shell crab po’boy." So I did. I think it was the best sandwich I have ever eaten. Two HUGE soft shells with lettuce, tomato, sauce, on New Orleans French bread. Perfection!

Well,sometimes I’d eat out on their patio right over the water. But, you’re very likely right about me being older than you. Heck, I’m older than West Rock. I dug the cave the three judges hid out in.

By the way, Rafaelli’s had terrific lasagna, too.

quote:

Originally posted by Roy

Wow, Michael Hoffman….Raffaelli’s was where I first learned to eat them around 50 to 55 years ago. That was a great place in my memory, right on the water. They don’t make them like that around here anymore.
I didn’t know Stowes was where the Captains Galley is. I recall it was further east over by Bilco Door for a long time. Now they have the little place in the garage a few blocks west. They do the soft shells also and based on last year, are probably cheaper than anywhere else but I haven’t been there lately….too cold and wet to eat outside.

You’re right about Stowes being not far from Bilco (a company owned by the guy who married my across-the-street neighbor’s daughter). But that’s where the Captain’s Galley was when I was last there. I gather, from what you said, that the Captain’s Galley moved.

Do you remember the stacks of fried softshells right at the order window in the front of Rafaelli’s — all of them with their eyes facing the customers? [:D]