Blue Crabs have always been synonymous with life along the Chesapeake—Algonquian for “at a big river,” with archaeologists finding remnants of crab feasts from both Native Americans and early colonists.

Today Claudia and I walked 1.5 miles to a highly recommended hole-in-the-wall Crab House “Locus Point Steamers” where all the locals go to feast on the crustaceans.  Waited 45 minutes, we were seated at a table covered with brown butcher’s wrapping paper. Seated next to us were three people drove 5 hours today from Long Island, NY just to eat crabs at this restaurant. We said to each other “this place gotta be damned good!”.

We ordered crabs and the special steamed shellfish special plate came  flavored in Old Bay seasoning. In Maryland, they break down crab shells with wooden mallets, not stainless crackers like Boston. Picture this – every table, folks violently pounding on those crabs just to take out little pieces of white meats; it was sort of nuts and was not like anything we’ve ever experienced and definitely not for the faint of hearts. I was taught well on the art-of-eating-crabs by my Portuguese family and friends, including our lobsterman friend Kenny who used to bring us crabs when they were hauled in with their lobster traps. I surgically removed the delicate meats with very little mallets actions,  eating every single part of the crabs includes all the crap inside the crabs. Nothing goes to waste. It  was the best meal I’ve had in a long time.

Tomorrow we head for the Sailing Capital of the US – Annapolis.