Thanks to petite_gourmandewho alerted me to Go4Food's salt and pepper soft shells a group of us headed there tonight to stuff ourselves. These were some of the best soft shells I've had, we supplemented with the giant clams, scallops, pea tips with crab, millionaire rice and golden crab which I'm hoping someone who took a pic will post. An amazing meal for 8 of us, we're lucky to have a place like this serving such fresh seafood.

mbh wrote:Thanks to petite_gourmandewho alerted me to Go4Food's salt and pepper soft shells a group of us headed there tonight to stuff ourselves. These were some of the best soft shells I've had, we supplemented with the giant clams, scallops, pea tips with crab, millionaire rice and golden crab which I'm hoping someone who took a pic will post. An amazing meal for 8 of us, we're lucky to have a place like this serving such fresh seafood.

Don't eat me!


Oops,

This past Wednesday they had them as the last item on the menu at Fahlstrom's. I think the description under soft shell crabs says "Dave's seasoned, pan fried, cornbread shrimp stuffing, andouille sausage, poached eggs, hollandaise".





For those who want to make them at home, they still had some beauties yesterday at Heinen's in Glenview:

They have them at Restaurant Michael in Winnetka, for tonight's special ("Frito Misto of Crispy Tempura Softshell Crabs, Ramps & White Asparagus, Ginger-Lemongrass Thai Lobster Broth, Chinese Black Rice"). Reserve in advance if you want to make sure to get some.

Has anyone had them at Dusek's? The sample dinner menu on their website currently shows "beer battered soft shell crab, ramps, green garbanzo, maitake mushrooms, yellow tomato conserva, soy caramel".

nsxtasy wrote:For those who want to make them at home, they still had some beauties yesterday at Heinen's in Glenview

Heinen's has them now, the first of the season, at "first of the season prices" ($9.99 each ). I'm sure the price will come down as the season goes on. But if you want them now, they have them.

Carnivore in Oak Park was advertising "Soft Shell Bahn Mis" yesterday:

https://www.facebook.com/carnivoreoakpark/photos/a.224992881037017.1073741825.224584781077827/514021738800795/?type=3&theater

My wife had the soft shell crab at Dusek's last night. She really enjoyed them, and I liked my one tiny taste. Tasty, crunchy batter.

The Chicago branch of Shaw's Crab house had them on Tuesday, dusted with flour and pan sautéed. We had the happy hour oysters, soft shells, lobster rolls and a watercress and shaved asparagus salad, before seeing Neil deGrasse Tyson at the Chicago theater.

Shaw's Crab House
21 E Hubbard St.
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 527-2722

Like any other living animal, soft shells need to breathe, wrapping in plastic wrap will kill them as shown in the above picture.
I only purchase out of the shipping box (flat) which contains a standardized 32 per box with natural material of some sort.
They must move, which may take some time as below a certain temp, they go dormant. They must not be limp.
Most of what I see for sale 'live' is in fact dead or pre-cleaned which means frozen before hand.
Yesterday was going to go to Boston Fish Market where they initially told me they only had frozen and when I said no, I was told they had fresh 'Wales'.
On my way I stopped at Fresh Farms Touhy and they had 4 dilapidated soft shells in the case. Told the fish monger, I wanted at least 12 and he initially reported only four more in the back. When he went to get some shrimp for me, he came back and said he had a 'flat' and then brought it out.
Crabs were moving and beautiful. Took 12 @ 5.99/crab.
Last year, they were less than $4.
Anyway, they were as good as any I have ever had!-Richard

budrichard wrote:I only purchase out of the shipping box (flat) which contains a standardized 32 per box with natural material of some sort.

The number of soft-shells per tray varies by size and by producer.

Thursday, I bought a box of 18 Jumbo's from Wabash Seafood.

This coming Wednesday, we have 10 dozen Whales coming in from Wabash for a Club function.

Bill Dugan from Superior Ocean is selling next week:
Live Jumbos, 3 dz. per tray and Live Primes, 4 dz per tray.

budrichard wrote:Like any other living animal, soft shells need to breathe, wrapping in plastic wrap will kill them as shown in the above picture.

FWIW, the above picture shows them as I took them home from Heinen's. You will NOT find them on a shelf that way, i.e. pre-packaged. They have them live at the store. When you buy them, they clean them and put them in the plastic packaging for you at that time. So it's up to you what to do with them. You can bring them home and eat them right away. Or, I suppose you could buy them live if you have the ability to transport them that way and you don't mind cleaning them yourself.

Evil Ronnie wrote:

budrichard wrote:I only purchase out of the shipping box (flat) which contains a standardized 32 per box with natural material of some sort.

The number of soft-shells per tray varies by size and by producer.

Thursday, I bought a box of 18 Jumbo's from Wabash Seafood.

This coming Wednesday, we have 10 dozen Whales coming in from Wabash for a Club function.

Bill Dugan from Superior Ocean is selling next week:
Live Jumbos, 3 dz. per tray and Live Primes, 4 dz per tray.

I Certainly don't doubt how you receive them but in my lifetime, I have only seen them in 36 to the flat, 18 to a side.-Richard

nsxtasy wrote:

budrichard wrote:Like any other living animal, soft shells need to breathe, wrapping in plastic wrap will kill them as shown in the above picture.

FWIW, the above picture shows them as I took them home from Heinen's. You will NOT find them on a shelf that way, i.e. pre-packaged. They have them live at the store. When you buy them, they clean them and put them in the plastic packaging for you at that time. So it's up to you what to do with them. You can bring them home and eat them right away. Or, I suppose you could buy them live if you have the ability to transport them that way and you don't mind cleaning them yourself.

They are very simple to clean.
The advantage to cleaning them yourself is that they start losing fluids the moment you clean them, the amount is substantial and the sooner you can get them into the pan, the plumper your soft shell will be.
I carry a large cooler with me, ask for ice and assure that they can breathe while transporting them live and storing them.
-Richard

some real high quality one upmanship ITT

Big & Little's makes a great soft shell crab po boy.

CSD

FYI:

sweet

"Beautiful Swimmers" to steal a phrase from an award winning book about these creatures and the Chesapeake Bay!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beautiful_Swimmers
A must read for lovers of this creature!-Richard

Dirk's has Chesapeake Bay soft shells in their shop now. The ones I saw had straw around their bodies. I can not tell you anything else about them.

nsxtasy wrote:Heinen's has them now, the first of the season, at "first of the season prices" ($9.99 each ). I'm sure the price will come down as the season goes on.

Now $6.99 each.

Boston Fish Market is serving what appear to be Jumbos for $28.99 for four beauties sauteed in butter and garlic. I'm not sure what the raw price is, if you're taking them home.

chicagostyledog wrote:Big & Little's makes a great soft shell crab po boy.

CSD

They do it yr round so suspect they're frozen.

Once again Go4Food's salt and pepper soft shells are available, I think this is my favorite prep. Last night there was a large group of about 10 guys at the front round table, Milo said they came in once a year and ordered 20-25 orders of soft shells, plus some sides, I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself.

Hi mbh!

Thanks for the report. Not criticizing Milo here...but every Seafood Distributor in Chicagoland has brought in live soft shells 1,2 3 times per week for about the last month. At the start of the peak season (these critters only molt when water temperature is warmer than 70F), they pretty much have to be pre-ordered. Now, everybody's got 'em.

I respectfully suggest that his "Only come in once a year" is a sales "schtick."
(They are also more cost effective at this time.) The actual once a year is normally between Late May/Early June, and Late Aug/Early Sept.

They also stop molting and become even more fragile under excessive heatwaves.

Sorry for butting in. Just my $0.02. Hope to see you soon at the Club mbh. Will you be attending next month's Ascot Ball?

Take care,

ER

Jazzfood is spot on regarding Big/Little.

Evil Ronnie wrote:
I respectfully suggest that his "Only come in once a year" is a sales "schtick."

I was interpreting it as that the group of 10 guys comes in once a year, ostensibly to go crab-wild.

Kman wrote:

Evil Ronnie wrote:
I respectfully suggest that his "Only come in once a year" is a sales "schtick."

I was interpreting it as that the group of 10 guys comes in once a year, ostensibly to go crab-wild.

Correct (I was fortunate to be there last night as well!!)

Thanks for the correction. As usual, multitasking got the better of me.

Or perhaps it was just another "Senior Moment."

After more closely rereading, I now actually "get it!"

ER

This weekend, we're running a special:
Nashville Hot softshell crab sandwich: brioche bun, smoked paprika aioli, vinegar slaw, bread and butter pickles.


The Budlong
2928 N Broadway
Chicago, IL 60657
www.thebudlong.com
773 270 9005

rubbbqco wrote:Nashville Hot softshell crab sandwich

That looks Fantastic! If hadn't just eaten soft shell crab on an English muffin for lunch I'd run right over!

Soft Shell Crab on English muffin = lunch

Dear God! I can't run over today, will you have it tomorrow also?

rubbbqco wrote:This weekend, we're running a special:
Nashville Hot softshell crab sandwich: brioche bun, smoked paprika aioli, vinegar slaw, bread and butter pickles.


The Budlong
2928 N Broadway
Chicago, IL 60657
http://www.thebudlong.com
773 270 9005