Photo by Elisabeth Grant

Dish of the Week: Maryland Blue Crabs

Where: Quarterdeck Restaurant

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley recently announced that this year’s crop of Chesapeake Bay blue crabs may be the largest in 20 years. What better way to celebrate than by eating the beady-eyed crustaceans?

Picking crabs requires tough fingers, perseverance, and easy access to Old Bay. Steamed crabs usually come out piping hot (wait a minute or two to save yourself from burned fingers) and encrusted with a seasoning blend. While melted butter and vinegar are commonly available on the side, try to use them sparingly. The meat of steamed crabs has a great sweet flavor.

It takes a while to fill up from picking crabs. Each crab will only provide you with a small amount of meat, so depending on your appetite you may find yourself devouring six, or twelve, or more whole crabs. Since you’ll need to spend a few minutes per crab, plan a few hours for your crab picking. Settle in with a group of friends and a pitcher of beer and enjoy the experience.

New pickers may find taking a crab apart intimidating. There are lungs to get through (don’t eat the lungs, NEVER eat the lungs) and weird, though often delicious, yellow stuff (“mustard”). Check out these step-by-step instructions to picking crabs, or go to eat with someone more experienced.

There are quite a few crab joints in Maryland, and it’s always nice to eat seafood closer to the water. But if you’d rather plan an evening out rather than a day trip, head over to Arlington’s Quarterdeck Restaurant. Call ahead (703-528-2722) to make reservations and to reserve enough crabs for your party. When you arrive, be prepared for at least a 30 minute cooking time wait.

Small Bites

A Salute to Food
Taste of 8th, sponsored by Barracks Row Main Street, is back this Saturday showcasing the wide variety of eating options on 8th Street SE these days. Tickets are $5 for one tasting or $20 for five tastings and the event runs from 1:00-4:00 p.m.

Club Brunch
Lost Society’s (2001 14th Street NW) weekly Saturday brunch, the Champagne Campaign, combines top 40 hits with all-you-can-eat breakfast and bottomless champagne mimosas for $40. Text (yes, text) 202-737-3783 to make a reservation. Every Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Come for the Food, Stay for the Music
A music festival organized by a restaurant better have good food, right? SweetGreen steps up to the challenge with a selection of interesting, delicious, and sustainable food options at this Saturday’s Sweetlife Festival. Take a break from rocking out to Avicii, Kid Cudi, and The Shins to try selections from José Andrés Pepe Truck, Gordy’s Pickle Jar, Toki Underground, Pleasant Pops, and a ton of other options.

There’s Ice Cream in my Beer…Yay!
Et Voila (5120 MacArthur Boulevard NW ) is launching a new Belgian Beer Float menu, “combining crisp, cold Belgian brews with creamy, frosty housemade ice creams.” Selections include: Hoegaarden with Calamansi ice cream, Peach Lambic with peach ice cream and Sichuan pepper, and Kasteel Rouge with housemade Hoegaarden ice cream. All beer floats $10.

Fried and Fancy
Cork Market & Tasting Room (1805 14th Street NW) will start hosting Fried Chicken and Champagne dinners one Sunday a month, starting May 6 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., to dispel the “myth that sparkling wine is meant to be enjoyed only during celebrations.” Cork Chef Kristin Hutter’s Garlic-Herb Marinated Fried Chicken was for Bon Appétit’s “Top 10 Fried Chicken” list.

Forget the Sake, Pass the Beer
On June 26 at 7:00 p.m., Sushiko (5455 Wisconsin Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD) will pair Japanese cuisine with craft beer. The menu includes Edamame paired with Port City pale ale; Lobster and Asparagus Suimono with Brasseurs Illimites double porter; Flounder Carpaccio with White Soy and Truffle Sauce complemented by a surprise beer of Brasseurs du Monde; Honey and Soy Roasted Duck with A l’Abri de La Tempete Corps Mort; Spicy Broiled Mussels and Coronado Islander IPA and a final course of Nigiri Sushi paired with Brasseurs Illimites Imperial Stout. Call (301) 961-1644 for reservations. $85 (includes tax and tip).

Hungry to Help
Lace up your kicks, or open your wallet, for the 2012 Washington DC CROP Hunger Walk on May 5 to help raise money to end hunger in the U.S. and around the world. The walk begins at Christ United Methodist Church (4th and I Street SW) with registration at 9:00 a.m. and the walk at 10:00 a.m.