Weekly reviews of crab cakes around the MD and DC area

Dockside Classics

Real crab cakes can be hard to find in the off-season, especially if you expect it to contain any precious Maryland Blue crab.  So when you are walking through the grocery store and spy a new brand of crab cake, the words "made with real crab meat" might pique your interest.  And if you are super proud of your country, then the "Made in USA!" will have that package jumping into your cart in no time.  Found at my local Giant supermarket, I decided to fight terrorism the only way I know how -- by eating crab cakes.  How were they?  Continue on and find out!

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Bloom Crab Cake

Bloom is a chain of supermarkets run by Food Lion (or as some of us call it -- Food Kitty).  The idea was for a concept supermarket that analyzed changing trends and needs to create an unconventional layout to maximize customer convenience.  For example, you can buy milk at the front of the store, instead of having to go all the way to the back for it.

This week, the CCR reviews their store-made crab cakes.  How were they?  Read on and find out!

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Blob's Park

Who doesn't love a German beer hall?  Wood paneling and stuffed animal heads on the walls (one bear in particular looks like he knows how to have a good time!).  Long list of German beers on tap.  The sounds of polkas and people in traditional German clothing dancing.

Blob's Park has been around since 1933, when it opened with the purpose to bring a little bit of the homeland to the area for everyone to enjoy.  There is a fair amount of history here, like the first Oktoberfest in the United States being celebrated here in 1947.  If you haven't been here at least once, then you'll certainly want to make a point to at some point.  

Bennet's Curse also sets up shop at Blob's Park, which has been voted one of the best haunts in the country.  As part of your admission, you gain free entrance into Blob's Park.  Imagine our surprise when, after going into the bar for a post-haunt beer, that we would see crab cakes on the menu!  (But, sadly, no maultaschen.)  Well, we couldn't pass up an opportunity to see what the Germans could do with our favorite local treat.  Follow along to see how the adventure unfolds!

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Trader Joe's Maryland Style Crab Cakes

What more can you say about Trader Joe's that hasn't already been said?  They're a private label upscale grocery store that puts as much emphasis into the quality of their products as they do keeping their prices extraordinarily low.  And if you happen to live in a state that allows them to sell beer and wine, they have an exceptional selection of private label and name brand wines for dirt cheap (even though the Two Buck Chuck no longer costs $2, it's still pretty damn cheap).

With all of these culinary treats available at affordable prices, it almost becomes a challenge to see if you can make it out of there with just two grocery bags and to keep costs under $40.  Although it doesn't help when they have sample stations set up so you can try products you were recently introduced, or ones that you might easily pass over.  But, then again, this is America, where we like to keep ourselves fat and happy.

Speaking of which, on a recent Trader Joe's run, there was a specific item that happened to jump into the shopping cart while walking down the frozen fish aisle.  It was as if it was meant to be.  That's right -- Maryland Style Crab Cakes.  And for only $3.29!  At that price, you figure, "How bad can it be?"  Well, dear readers, this is what we are here to find out.  So continue reading and see how it all worked out!

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Phillips Maryland Style Crab Cakes

Earlier this summer, the CCR stopped by Phillips Harborplace in Baltimore to review their famous crab cakes.  Needless to say, we weren't that impressed.  But while grocery shopping one day, it occurred to us that because Phillips is such a large franchise in the area, that maybe, just maybe, overall consistency between retail and restauraunt products is what they're after.  

Phillips has a few retail offerings relating to crab cakes:  the Maryland Style Crab Cakes (being reviewed), the Maryland Style Crab Cake Minis, and the Coastal Crab Cake.  The picture on the box looks fairly similar to the crab cakes at their restaurants.  So how do they compare?  Read on to find out!

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Chesapeake Bay Brand Crab Cakes

Grocery shopping can sometimes be an adventure, especially when you go to a store that you are unfamiliar with.  What new treats await you in the next aisle?  Are they worth the cost?  Can I find these in other stores, or even the same store in a different location?  

Imagine how elated the CCR was when stopping by a random grocery store and seeing a brand of frozen crab cakes that haven't been encountered yet.  And they came in two different varieties -- normal crab cakes (being reviewed) and jumbo lump crab cakes (future review).  They also sat alongside Phillips frozen crab cakes, so which to choose?

You may not know this at the store, but do some internet researching, and you will find out that Chesapeake Bay Brands is the same company that sells gourmet crab cakes on QVC, appeared on Oprah's "O" List, and were even voted by the Baltimore Sun as the best mail-order crab cake (although this was back in 1993).  So there may be some high hopes for the quality of these crab cakes.  Follow along and find how if their reputation precedes them!

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