One of the very first things I can remember being a family thing that (growing up in the South anyways) nobody else did was steam crabs the Maryland (*read: correct) way.
Now, this is not the "Oh, I have had steamed crab legs while I was at the beach on spring break last year." type thing. This is the real deal. A giant bag of spices, almost too heavy for a 5 year old to carry, being taken out of the pantry to completely cover the dozens of live blue crabs brought home for the feast. I remember one time at my Aunt Gayle's house in Maryland having to wear shoes in the kitchen. Why? Because the best place for the crabs to go before putting them in the pot was on the floor! Needless to say, my cousin, who was a toddler then, was not allowed to put one toe onto that linoleum.
The event of it all. The taste, of course. The smell. The brown paper. The mess. <--Yes, you heard me right. The only thing in the world worth getting your hands messy for is deliciously sweet blue crab meat.
Maryland Steamed Blue Crabs are without a doubt my favorite food. Sadly, I haven't had one bit of that sweet goodness in years.
But not for long! Tomorrow I will be hopping on a plane with my mom and stepdad to fly to Baltimore for a quick visit with my aging grandfather. And I have made as clear as the water in the Chesapeake, I am getting my hands on some serious crab while I am in town.
Both at a crab feast, which will be a new experience for me. (My mom is excited for me to experience this)
And, at the one and only Mr. Bill's. I love this place. It makes me think of family, food, and happiness.
It is such a funny thing the way it all works up there. I love it. Makes me happy that I grew up picking crabs. You may think it's silly that I talk so sentimentally about eating a certain meal. But it's part of who I am.
And come on, doesn't that look delicious?
My stepmom's picture from her last trip to Mr. Bill's
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