In the beginning...

Welcome to our food log, an intimate look into Restaurant Eve - our chefs, our food, our travels and our verve. Each week, or rather when it strikes the fancy, we’ll post a peek into the behind the scenes of our world - both the divine and the diabolical.

Tuesday, May 24

IN THE KITCHEN: Maryland Soft-Shell Crab


If you're a fan of biting through a crispy exterior to discover the succulent, soft, flavorful interior of the Maryland soft-shell blue crab, now is the time to get it (in season April - September).

WHY WE LOVE IT:
A delicacy that requires the appropriate handling and care, our soft-shell crabs are local. Marylanders are in for a treat; Maryland's colder waters and estuaries produce a blue crab that's higher in favorable fat. There are actually only a few species of crab that can be eaten in this form: the soft-shell of a blue crab is reminiscent of the crispy layer wrapped around an egg roll.  Chef prepares it fried in powdered starch with an organic young basil pesto, topped on house-baked bread.

PAYING HOMAGE:
Callinectes sapidus, the scientific name of the soft-shell blue crab, reveals a poetic reverence to this delicacy. Derived from Latin and Greek, calli  means beautiful, nectes - swimmer, and sapidus - savory.

So the next time you're trying to order off the menu, just go ahead and ask for the beautiful, savory, swimmer -- we'll know what you mean.

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