Dungeness crab from Costco.
Saturday morning we met friends from our old home for breakfast. I had a crab and asparagus omelette and my husband had a crab cake “benny.” We had a great visit with our friends and the food was delicious.
Since we were off our hill into Scottsdale proper, we made our way to Costco. I must have had crab on my brain because I ended up with the crab pictured above. Typical of Costco, it was more than we needed. Three crabs total.
Two hours later of sitting outside with kitchen scissors, nut crackers and a bowl for shells and a bowl for crab meat — and I was done with the cracking.
It was time consuming, tedious and my back, shoulders and hands felt it. But I loved every minute of it.
Why?
First, because Dungeness crab is my most favorite food in the world.
Not only is it delicious, it reminds me of my childhood. We had a boat we kept in Anacortes, Wash., which is the gateway to the San Juan Islands. In Anacortes, next to the Shell Oil refinery, we would catch Dungeness crabs. We’d anchor in that cove which had a slightly sloped sandy bottom where the crabs loved to live.
They aren’t the most intelligent creatures and we’d fish for them with salmon rods. They’d hang onto the line with one claw — munching on whatever we used for bait — cat food, fish heads, whatever. As we reeled them in, they wouldn’t let go until they hit the water’s surface. My dad was ready with the salmon net underneath the crabs when they’d let go. It was his job to untangle the crabs and put them in an ice chest.
My mom’s job was to steam the crabs in the boat’s tiny kitchen and serve us plates of Dungeness crab with squeezes of lemon and melted butter within minutes of catching them.
I’ve had nothing like it since — except for maybe the razor clams we dug and Mom cooked at Ocean Shores. The Costco crab didn’t quite meet my memories of our freshly caught crab, but it was delicious. A real treat for me.
My husband is under the impression that King crabs are the best. That’s because they don’t take much work and you get a big piece of meat. Any Dungeness connoisseur will turn their nose up at this. We know that the delicate flavor of Dungeness cannot be surpassed — and the work to get every morsel out is worth the effort. That’s why I sat and cracked crab for both my husband and me.
When we lived in Palm Springs, my dad would do the same for Christmas Eve dinner so we’d all have a crab cocktail.
Now this is a Dungeness crab sandwich!
Are you a King crab person or a Dungeness lover? What is your most favorite food in the world?
I love seafood, but I never had a dungeness crab. I will have to try it. 🙂
It’s so delicious but it is a lot of work!
And I am lazy, that’s why I don’t order crab legs. LOL!
I would eat that entire bowl, what a treat!
It didn’t last long! It was an amazing treat. I haven’t had Dungeness in years.
I love the memories you have tied up in this fave food — especially the sweet one of your mom. I am not a shellfish afficionado due to allergies, but I’m surrounded by family who love it! Enjoy every bit…I’ll be noshing on pizza, forever and ever, amen…as my fave food.
Happy Monday, Elizabeth. 💕🥰💕
Thank you! Yes, I thought of my mom while I cracked crab. I’m sorry you have allergies. My son can’t eat seafood either. I’m also a pizza fan 😊
🥰🥰🥰
💕💕
It looks amazing. I could go for a crab omelette right about now. Love a great crab cake sandwich. I’ll be craving that now for the rest of the day. Ha, ha.
Thanks! There was one place in Newport Beach that had the best crab cakes I’ve ever had. It was 100% pure crab, lightly browned on top and bottom. It ruined me for any other crab cakes that have filler or breading.
Yes, there’s such a crazy mix. Lately I feel like anytime I order, I’m getting lots of filler. Need to make a trip to MD to one of our favorite spots. Yes, when you have the real thing, kind of spoils you to getting it anywhere else. Ha, ha.
That’s it!
I just like crab period. So much work though!
I love crab period and you’re right about how much work it is. Growing up, we’d crack and eat our own crab bite by bite. I’ve never done what I did this weekend and crack three crabs and make a bowl of crab meat.
Yum! We do crab every Christmas Eve, though I don’t admittedly don’t even know what kind… I think king. It’s so good!
What a nice tradition. My dad would bring crab cocktails for us, but prime rib was our main course. I bet it was King. Dungeness is more of a San Francisco and Seattle thing.
We traveled to Seattle in 2019 and visited Sequim in the Olympic Peninsula and I was shocked to see Dungeness crab traps at Costco, and sprinkled through dozens of lawns. It was neat… definitely a Seattle thing!
We used to camp at Dungeness Spit near Sequim. I didn’t know Costco sold crab traps!
as I come from the land of Blue Crabs I am totally with you. There is one minor sorry major issue. No Old Bay!
You reminded me that my mom would use Old Bay.
Love this beautiful story, Elizabeth! I didn’t know you could catch crabs with a fishing pole – that’s so good! And you’re right – Dungeness crabs are amazing!! <3
I remember we’d also put a crab pot out while we fished. But we’d get way more with salmon rods. Dungeness crabs are the best!
I’m on Team King Crab…but only because I haven’t ever had Dungeness Crab. I am confident based on your thoughts it is very much worth the relative “work” you don’t have with the King Crab. New Year’s Eve tradition: My wife makes Crab Dip. Tasty post here!
I believe it’s worth the work, but I have childhood memories to enforce that. My husband is on team King crab. Crab dip sounds like a good tradition.
I love crab but seldom indulge. I don’t know the difference between Dungeness and King, but I’d love to do a side-by-side taste test!
They are totally different in my Pacific Northwest opinion. I’d wonder what you’d say.
What a great story about catching and eating the crabs right on the boat! Fabulous memory. I don’t believe I’ve had Dungeness crab, so I like the simplicity of king crab legs, though I rarely indulge. You found edible asparagus this time of year?
My favorite food is cheese. I will never, I repeat never, give it up for any reason.
Thanks! Those were great memories. As for the asparagus, it was at a restaurant so they may have more access. I love cheese too.
Great job! It’s nice to have good memories!
😊
I don’t love seafood. But when I have gone to Seattle I always get dungeoness crab dip
Yum. Growing up clam digging, fishing, gathering oysters has made me a seafood snob 😊
I don’t like any crab (I know!) wish I did.
Maybe you have an allergy or haven’t tried freshly caught Dungeness with butter?
I’d try it again 🙂
😊