Crab Bake!
As part of a belated birthday celebration with the Detective and her family, we ended up throwing a small late lunch / early dinner party on Saturday. We picked up a dozen dungeness crab at 99 Ranch and I battled them into a few pots. They sure were feisty little suckers, but I triumphed eventually.
I apologize for the iPhone quality photos...
We served the crabs with spicy Filipino vinegar and kalamansi (Filipino limes):
For dessert, I was treated to a Tres Leches cake from Northgate, a nearby Mexican supermarket.
"Tres leches cake... is a cake... soaked in three kinds of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and either whole milk or cream."
There's a simple code involved in the seemingly asymmetrical candle layout, but I'll let you worry about deciphering it on your own.
We served the crabs with spicy Filipino vinegar and kalamansi (Filipino limes):
For dessert, I was treated to a Tres Leches cake from Northgate, a nearby Mexican supermarket.
"Tres leches cake... is a cake... soaked in three kinds of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and either whole milk or cream."
There's a simple code involved in the seemingly asymmetrical candle layout, but I'll let you worry about deciphering it on your own.
Comments
So you're 37? Happy 37th!
Northgate is Northgate. It's to be expected. They make up for it in taste and price. "Professional" would be a stretch. The letters are all different sizes, which is awesome in its own kitschy way.
Thanks!
Ohhh... I thought the candles were shaped like a hill, as in "Over the hill"... tee hee.
That sounds like an awesome birthday. There are few - if any - things better than cookin' up some crabs from the Ranch 99. My grandma used to get a bunch, lay newspaper at the table, and hand you a rock for cracking them (the rock was only for amateurs, really... she didn't need any tools). The Filipino vinegar-lime recipe sounds really good. Maybe you can cook it for me some time. :-)
Kalamansi and fish sauce (patis) is another incredible combination for a simple condiment - lime+fish sauce is amazing with chicken, especially dashed into chicken soup for a flash of freshness.
Check out the vinegar section at 99 Ranch sometime. There are a huge selection of Filipino vinegars - including coconut. The spiced one is the best though. Especially on lumpia/egg rolls. The Detective is also a big fan of banana ketchup.
Anytime!
I forgot to mention I steamed them with beer, and sprinkled Old Bay Seasoning and cayenne pepper on top.