Good Deal on Canned Crab Meat at Whole Foods

Yesterday, the Whole Foods at Halsted and Addison was running a special on Pacific Cove Pasteurized Claw Crabmeat for $6.99 per pound. The label indicates that the meat is that of Indonesian Blue Crabs imported by a Florida based canner. The cans, which must be refrigerated, have expiration dates of 11/08.

I bought three with the intent of keeping them for several mid-winter crab cake feasts as the weather turns cold this year. I pay upwards of $25 a pound for a similar product from Treasure Island from time to time when I really want crab cakes.

Will-thanks for the heads up! I wonder if this is a location-specific sale or if the other Whole Foods are running a similar special? I'll reconnoiter to the Sauganash WP tomorrow afternoon and report back.

YourPalWill wrote:Yesterday, the Whole Foods at Halsted and Addison was running a special on Pacific Cove Pasteurized Claw Crabmeat for $6.99 per pound. The label indicates that the meat is that of Indonesian Blue Crabs imported by a Florida based canner. The cans, which must be refrigerated, have expiration dates of 11/08.

I bought three with the intent of keeping them for several mid-winter crab cake feasts as the weather turns cold this year. I pay upwards of $25 a pound for a similar product from Treasure Island from time to time when I really want crab cakes.

Sweet! I'm about to make the Michel Richard crab corn cakes with tartar sauce!

Can you direct me to that recipe?

Perfect crab cake takes a little work - but not too much

YourPalWill wrote:Yesterday, the Whole Foods at Halsted and Addison was running a special on Pacific Cove Pasteurized Claw Crabmeat for $6.99 per pound.
I pay upwards of $25 a pound for a similar product from Treasure Island from time to time when I really want crab cakes.

Will,

That's a very good price for claw meat, but if you're spending $25 for claw meat, you're really getting hosed.

I use half jumbo lump and half claw when I do crabcakes at home, and routinely buy pasteurized claw meat from Rubio Bros. (Lake and Halsted) for $7-8 per pound and lump running in the high teens. Isaccson and Stein also offer pasteurized crabmeat at reasonable prices but I don't remember them carrying claw meat.

I now know I must buy my claw meat elsewhere.

This thread on reasonably priced crab is of significant topical interest to me. My oldest daughter has this year requested crab 7 ways for her birthday, and we're going to get some straight up legs/claws, but I'm planning on doing some crab cakes, salad and some dessert incorporating the crustacean. Maybe a quiche...

Also check Costco. They sell the cans of pasturized claw and also lump. I don't recall the price, though.

David Hammond wrote:this year requested crab 7 ways for her birthday

Hammond,

As one of the 7 you could do Chili Crab such as R & G Lounge or a classic Crab Louie a la Swan Oyster Depot.

R & G Lounge Chili Crab


Enjoy,
Gary

R & G Lounge
631 Kearny Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
415-982-7877

Swan Oyster Depot
1517 Polk St.
San Francisco, CA 94109
415-673-1101

Wiv, your San Francisco posts are making me long for a return trip to that city.

Trader Joes also carries canned claw meat -- 2 different grades. I want to say 7.99 / 9.99??

YourPalWill wrote:Wiv, your San Francisco posts are making me long for a return trip to that city.

Here's one for you.

L Wiv and daughter Ally (8/26/07)


We didn't eat at Kan's, I think it's best, at least for me, to have my fond Kan's memories preserved in amber.

Hammond - if you're going to do a crab salad, I'm going to have to suggest the classic crab louis. If there's a heaven, they're serving up a true crab louis daily.

So this would be the seven ways I would want it: baltimore style crab cakes; crab bisque; crab louis; simple steamed king crab legs w/ drawn butter (goes very nicely w/ homemade french fries); salt and pepper crab; cold stone crab claws (w/ a couple of different dipping sauces); and the dish Gary has pictured above.

May I also add that you've raised a wonderful child? Girl after my own heart.

bryan wrote:May I also add that you've raised a wonderful child? Girl after my own heart.

--And the Chinese epicure Li Liweng's heart, as well. In The Importance of Living, Lin Yutang quotes part of Li Liweng's essay on "Crabs" in the section on food from Li's Art of Living:

...as for crabs, my heart likes them, my mouth relishes them, and I can never forget them for a year and a day.... Every year before the crab season comes, I set aside some money for the purpose and because my family say that "crab is my life," I call this money "my life ransom." From the day it appears on the market to the end of the season, I have never missed it for a night.... O crab! my life shall begin and end with thee!

Lin goes on to write that "the reason Li finally gave for his appreciation of crab was that it was perfect in the three requisites of food--color, fragrance and flavor."

--Matt

Meijer has the big black can of Philips claw meat $8.99 everyday. That can is packed tight- very little liquid, but still only claw meat. Kinda brown and kinda shredded but still tastes good.

That's pretty close to what this was, Grant. Not the best crab meat ever. But, it makes for a decent crabcake.