Everglades Seafood Festival

Just got back from the Everglades Seafood Festival and I have to say I was sorely disappointed. It was about a 45 minute drive to within 3 miles of Everglades City and then hit a traffic backup that tacked on another hour. Wonderful start. Same thing happened on the way out with another wasted hour sitting in traffic. It was very crowded, which I expected and could've dealt with had the food not been so dreary. I had boiled crawfish, which had some heat but otherwise no taste. Fried clams were rubber bands and this was disappointing because I can get some great fresh clam bellies, pristinely fried, around my place. Fried calamari was cold. Fried grouper was way overbreaded, although the fish itself was very fresh. And the kicker was seeing all this tartar sauce sitting in bowls, with no ice, in the sun. The food looked pretty much the same at all the vendors so I don't believe my taste experience was limited to the ones I tried. The one thing I enjoyed was some fresh lemonade, and even that was trying what with hundreds of bees buzzing around the stand while waiting. My expectation was for lots of fresh seafood just off the boats that come in there every day. Oysters, grouper, stone crabs, etc. All the stone crabs were previously frozen. I get fresh, never frozen crabs at a market near my house, albeit at 4 times the price. Most of the other food was fried, except for the occasional kebab. More of a carney atmoshphere than a food fest. A bunch of sorry looking kiddie rides and and a whole slew of arts and crafts(more like arts & crap) tents. I'm not sorry I tried this but it certainly isn't worth going back.

Hey Rev Andy!

Just so happens that I was business traveling on Friday from Miami to Sarasota, on Hwy. 41. I saw a sign for the 'Everglades Seafood Festival' and decided to score some stone crab. Went to the Circle K for a styro cooler and ice, then proceeded to City Seafood.

I had been expecting quite the deal for large stones (3-5 per lb.) I thought they were almost exorbitant at $19 a pound. Still, I partook (partaked?) in 5# and brought them to the folks, who winter in Florida.
They wuz go-o-o-o-od! Their pre-made mustard sauce could've used a little more tang, though.

I just assumed the stone crab were fresh, but maybe they were 'fresh frozen'; I had heard there was a shortage this year, thus the price.

Hi JNM, we bought 2 bags of frozen stone crabs at the festival. $20 for 4 pounds. The seller said most of the crabs we would find are frozen, except for someplace like Joe's, which has their own vendor. We had them for lunch today and I'd have to say we were underwhelmed. Not the same texture or pristine quality of the crabs I get at my local shop which says they always get fresh, never frozen. There is a difference.

RevrendAndy wrote:Hi JNM, we bought 2 bags of frozen stone crabs at the festival. $20 for 4 pounds. The seller said most of the crabs we would find are frozen, except for someplace like Joe's, which has their own vendor. We had them for lunch today and I'd have to say we were underwhelmed. Not the same texture or pristine quality of the crabs I get at my local shop which says they always get fresh, never frozen. There is a difference.

Rev,

Seeing as Ellen and I had the pleasure of your, the delightful Mrs Rev's, and the stone crab in question, company for lunch Monday, I feel qualified to comment. Not that qualifications have ever stopped me from commenting before. I thought the Everglades Festive stone crab were good, not great. A little watery, and the flesh slightly granular, but they had good flavor and the mustard dipping sauce was very good.


I very much liked the seaweed salad, quite refreshing.


Ok stone crabs with great company still makes for a memorable lunch.

Enjoy,
Gary