Beat the Winter Blues With Florida Stone Crabs

By: Sara Levine

As a native Marylander, I’ve never associated crabs with winter. Balmy summer evenings on the Chesapeake with piles of Old Bay-spiced hard-shells seem far, far away during these frigid months. But down in Florida, it’s peak stone crab season at this very moment. If jetting off to South Beach isn’t feasible, cure your winter woes locally with fresh crab claws that practically taste of sunshine. At Ed’s Chowder House in New York City, a full roster of stone crab preparations beckons as a winter special.

Our favorite is the Stone Crab Mary, the best Bloody we’ve had in recent memory. The base is classic — nice and spicy — and then fresh crab meat is mixed in. Perched on top, beside the requisite celery stalk and olive garnishes, is a meaty crab claw fresh off the raw bar. This drink could make a very satisfying appetizer on its own.

Look out for Florida stone crabs at your seafood counter or fish market and mix up some crabby bloody marys for yourself with Ed’s recipe.

Ed’s Stone Crab Mary
2 ounces vodka
1 ounces crab meat
1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
8 ounce Ed’s Signature Bloody Mary Blend (recipe follows)
1 chilled stone crab claw
1 green olive
1 black olive
2 cherry tomatoes
1 celery stalk

Mix the first four ingredients and pour over ice. Garnish with stone crab claw, olives, tomatoes and celery stalk.

Signature Bloody Mary Blend:
8 ounces tomato juice
8 teaspoons lemon juice
4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, or to taste
3 teaspoons horseradish, or to taste
10 dashes Tabasco, or to taste
1 teaspoon celery seed
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Ed's Chowder House: 44 West 63rd St., New York City
More crab recipes from Cooking Channel:

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