consumed on 8/26/05
An acquaintance of mine recently built a new house in Oysterville, on Washington’s Long Beach Peninsula, and invited a few friends over for a weekend visit. It was a long drive out to the coast (in miserable traffic) but it was worth it.
C’s house was actually built as a retreat for the Willard R. Espy Literary Foundation‘s Writers Residency Program and it’s gorgeous. The main house is meant to be a gathering place for the writers/artists-in-residence and is very open and welcoming. My favorite part, of course, was the spacious communal kitchen with shelves full of top of the line cookware and a pantry stocked to the hilt.
As we arrived rather late that evening, dinner was ready and waiting: Dungeness crab with an Asian dipping sauce and a beautiful corn salad. Now, I’ve never really thought about dipping fresh crab into anything but butter, so the sauce threw me at first. Could a flavorful, Asian-style sauce be better than drawn butter? It was. In fact, it was so much better that I doubt I will serve crab with plain butter ever again.
Our friend R had recently found work as a wine distributor for l’Esprit du Vin, so he had brought along several great bottles of white wine. Dessert was a peach and berry crumble with fruits from the coast. It was one of the best fruit crumbles I’ve ever had, so I just had to get the recipe.
Megan,
That crisp sounds really intriguing. I may have to try it.
My mother always brings her own ponzu to restaurants when she plans to have crab. It used to embarrass me to no end. But, now it only confirms that I’m slowly but surely turning into my mother.
Ponzu is a Japanese dipping sauce generally made of soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, and (I think) citrus. There are different “flavors” though.
Kevin,
I’m such a bad baker that crumbles and crisps are a godsend for me!
Tamiko,
That is hilarious and very cute. I think your mom is really on to something… it’s strange how good the combo is with crab!
Hi Megwoo – the house and food both look wonderful!
Thanks Keiko!
My momma’s steamed crab asian dipping sauce consists of apple cider vinegar, grated fresh mature ginger and white sugar. it’s simple and delish.
Mmmm. That sounds great Eddie.