Pick a crab, any crab

Metromix helps you enjoy something crabby seven days a week

By John Houser III
Special to Metromix

If you were born in Baltimore, crabs are a birthright and a large part of your identity. Even if you're just a transplant, you've probably become accustomed enough to the delicacy to claim them as your own. Crabs are yours to be bought by the bushel and savored with friends over a few cold beers while the O's game plays in the background. They also serve as a reliable indicator of the season. Who needs a calendar to tell us it's summer, if we've just eaten steamed crabs and the temperature's in the 80s? The wonderful thing about the crab is how useful an ingredient it is. We are not locked into picking steamed crabs every time we get an itch for this classy crustacean. With the help of some ingenious cooks and resourceful chefs, the crab has been taken from backyard party and transformed into a delicacy to be treasured for its subtlety and flavor. It is with this in mind that we will try to guide you to seven of the best places in and around Baltimore to experience the versatility and frivolity that is the mighty crab.