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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!
Phillips Maryland Style Crab Cakes are 3 oz. in size and come in packages of 2. The crab cake is made from wild-caught crab meat (front of the box says premium lump crab meat, website says it's a blend of lump and backfin. Their retail crab meat comes from SE Asia, so it can be assumed all of their products are made from this meat), sauce (mayo/Dijon/Worcestershire), cracker meal and parsley.
Preferred cooking method is to pan saute from thawed in 2 tsp of oil per cake on medium heat, with oil preheated for one minute (box also recommends using peanut oil). Slide cakes into pan for 3 minutes, then flip for an additional 2-3 minutes. Place on paper towels to remove excess oil before serving.
You can also bake the cakes from frozen at 400 degrees F on a lightly buttered baking sheet for 12 minutes, then flip for an additional 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown.
Thawing recommendations is to thaw in fridge for 8-10 hours, or to thaw in microwave for 30 seconds on one side, then 15 seconds on the other.
For a frozen crab cake, this one isn't bad. Probably as good as, or better than, what you would get in one of their restaurants. Crab is a mixture of lumps and shreds, and the cake yields a bready, yet saucy, texture. Spicing flavor is nice without being too over the top or salty. Definitely use some fresh squeezed lemon to accentuate the flavors. Some of the crab lumps are a bit dried out, but that seems to be unavoidable in dealing with frozen foods. While fresh crab cakes, even from the store, are best, if you can't get fresh crab cakes easily and are really fiending for one, then Phillips Maryland Style Crab Cakes will happily suffice.
Additional Info
- Restaurant Name: Phillips Maryland Style Crab Cakes
- Address: Distribution Varies Found at Shopper's Food Warehouse
- Restaurant Type: Retail
- Website: http://www.phillipsfoods.com/retail-products/ProductsList.aspx?productClassificationId=2
- Review Date: 10/10/2011 5:00pm
- Item(s) Ordered: Maryland Style Crab Cakes
- Cooking Style: Sauteed
- Other Styles Available: Yes
- Available by mail order?: No
- Price: 9.99
- Order Type: Store Bought
- Crab Content: Lump
- Filler: Average
- Spice: Average
- Overall Impression: Average
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Rating (out of 5 crabs):
