Crab cakes at the World?

[N.Bailey]

As a person born and raised in Maryland I think there are 2 big problems with the crabcakes at WDW.

1) No Old Bay!

2) They don't use Blue Crabs.

I had the crabcake at Flying Fish and while it tasted reasonably good as food it wasn't a real Maryland Crabcake. I'm not sure what type of crab they used but I suspect it was dungeness. But in it's defense it didn't say Maryland Crabcake on the menu.

E.T.A.

I checked the menu and the Flying Fish is a Peeky Toe crab which is a Rock Crab not lump Blue Crab. There's a big difference.

I couldn't agree more. I kept reading it was the Old Bay (which is a staple in our neck of the woods), but if you don't have the Blue Crabs, you don't have a Maryland style crab cake. It's that simple.

Having said that, I do make a pretty mean crab cake using Heaven forbid, pasteurized crab from who knows where. They're always selling it, buy one get one free at our grocery stores. It's claw meat and fairly cheap, but it does in a pinch.

To the OP, while you won't have the best crab cake money can buy in central Florida, IMO, you can get a feel for them by trying one there. Especially when you're in Canada and probably don't have much access to the Blue Crab. I concur with those who suggest you definitely get it broiled rather than fried, though. Just keep in mind, while whoever is picking the crab tries their hardest, there are times when you get a shell in your crab cake. It just goes with the territory. I think when the crab cakes are fried, it must disintegrate this bit of shell because I've never gotten a shell in a fried one in my life (though admit, it's a rarity that I eat them this way).

 

[Disney Ron]

We loved Kona's crab cakes. I was very unimpressed with the one I tried at Rainforest.

Give them a try wherever you decide. Original style or not I am certain any seafood lover will enjoy an attempt at crab goodness!

Mrs. Disney Ron

 

[suzimar57]

we like the crab cakes at LTT and Narcoosees

 

[shovan]

You people sure know your crab! I usually have snow crab, because it's what is fished in eastern Canada, but I really wonder about the taste difference between all the different sorts. Guess I'll have to make a crab taste trip someday, going down the east coast from north to south!! (However DBF doesn't like crab, so he'll be hard to convince!)

Now that sounds like a good idea!

 

[NotUrsula]

And if we keep up this discussion sooner or later we're going to end up with a debate on Old Bay vs Zatarain's or Maryland Blue Crab vs Gulf of Mexico Blue Crab!!!

Technically, Gulf Blues and Maryland Blues are the same species: Callinectes sapidus. They grow bigger off Maryland because the water is colder; it makes the fat content much higher. That said, for prepared recipes that call for crabmeat as the main ingredient, NOTHING beats backfin Blue for flavor, wherever you catch it.

Crab cakes in Louisiana are not the same as in Maryland at all; not trying to be -- it is a completely different concept. In Louisiana they are considered a way to use up leftover picked crab to flavor a cheap filling meal. The crab is used essentially as flavoring; the "cake" is really a cake, made of bread crumbs and minced vegetables, and it is fried as you would a hush puppy. A better, similar dish to Maryland crabcake that is made in Louisiana is the open-faced crab sandwich that you often find on brunch menus: it is lumpback Blue mixed with a bit of onion, hot mustard, and creole seasoning, piled on top of bread, topped with swiss cheese, and broiled. Yum.

AFAIK, None of the WDW restaurants use Surimi (aka "fake" crab, which is a paste product made from whitefish or pollock); they all do use real crab, but the species differs all over the place. Species other than the native-to-Florida Blues and Stones are brought in frozen. I'm pretty sure that the crabcakes at Narcoosees are made from backfin Blue when it is in season, which is in the summertime.

 

[gatour]

I am with shovan, for a crab cake with mostly crab meat and very little filler then, I would go with Flying Fish. I have crabcakes at most of other places on property (with the exception of Citrico's) and they more filler. Of this type I like the one served at Yacht Club Galley the most.

 

[shovan]

Crab cakes in Louisiana are not the same as in Maryland at all; not trying to be -- it is a completely different concept.

NotUrsula, How right you are!

Louisianians definitely do things differently! I agree that our crabcakes came about as a way to "stretch" the crabmeat. I think that most of our restaurant's are now serving more of a Maryland style. More crabmeat less breadcrumbs. The two types of crab cakes are still very different. Louisiana's being made with more spices, and what we call "seasonings", minced onion, garlic, bell pepper,etc.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Can't even imagine eating good crabcakes in Florida when they BOIL shrimp!! I have lived in the Annapolis area for my whole life! Trust me, Florida crab cakes are not the same as from Maryland!!

 

[madalex]

The crab cakes at FF are really good, but I had the ones at Citrico's during my trip in April and they were not good (too little crab and too much filler). I love Citrico's, so I was disappointed by this.

 

[jcemom]

Sounds like I would love Louisiana crab cakes! Thanks for the education!

 

[La2kw]

Add one more vote for LTT @ lunch! That was one of the best, if not the best crab cake that I have ever eaten. It was so good that a lunch ADR for LTT was a must do for this trip! Maggie

Getting hungry just thinking about them. Don't know if they're fried or broiled. Don't know if they have Old Bay or what the ratio of breadcrumbs to meat is. Don't know if they're like Maryland Crab Cakes, but I don't really care either. They're just plain good.

 

[mickeysaver]

Add one more vote for LTT @ lunch! That was one of the best, if not the best crab cake that I have ever eaten. It was so good that a lunch ADR for LTT was a must do for this trip! Maggie

Getting hungry just thinking about them. Don't know if they're fried or broiled. Don't know if they have Old Bay or what the ratio of breadcrumbs to meat is. Don't know if they're like Maryland Crab Cakes, but I don't really care either. They're just plain good.

OMG.....you are just evil. Maggie

 

[MommaPooh217]

For the love of god, DON'T order crabcakes at Disney. They are not good and they are most definitely not real crabcakes. If you want a real crabcake, come to Maryland. Or, just make your own, they are very easy (which is why I'm not sure why non-maryland restaurants always screw them up!). Here is a simple and yummy recipe (broil them, don't fry them):

http://www.mccormick.com/recipedetail.cfm?id=951

TRUST A MARYLANDER ON THIS ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Totally agreeing with my fellow Marylander Snow White.

 

[Uncleromulus]

The LTT crabcake looks to be a step in the right direction.. appears to have some backfin, and it's apparently not been fried.
We've had these crabcake "discussions" before and some time ago, someone posted a pic of the real thing. Wish I could find that---.

 

[laurabelle]

We've had these crabcake "discussions" before and some time ago, someone posted a pic of the real thing. Wish I could find that---.

I'm a Marylander and posted a crab cake pic a while ago...was it mine?

This is a double crabcake platter from G&M, which is near BWI Airport. Huge jumbo lump, broiled, not much filler and very reasonably priced! I love it with lemon and drawn butter... This joint is nothing to look at, but gets packed, for good reason. They do ship if you're not in the area, but it's pricey. I have had "crabcakes" in WDW, and they weren't bad, but I was not expecting MD crabcakes either... http://www.gandmcrabcakes.com

 

[NotUrsula]

You really cannot judge WDW restaurants (except perhaps Citricos) on the Florida factor in their cuisine -- most of the chefs are NOT native Floridians, and they don't use traditional Florida recipes, either. (Those of us who like Florida seafood know better than to look forward to it at WDW -- they serve very few native species for some bizarre reason -- you would THINK a chef would go for the freshest ingredients possible and save money on shipping, but mostly you would be wrong about that. Actually its a problem all over Orlando -- you would think those folks had never heard of a shrimp truck! )

I can remember the first time I encountered a "Yankee" crabcake (with apologies to you Maryland folks -- from a Louisiana perspective you are pretty far north!) I was waiting tables at the LSU Faculty club, and our new chef was from Boston. He was quite good, but he had to be actively taught how to alter his recipes so that the locals would like them. While everyone liked the texture of the broiled cakes and the generous amount of crab, they thought they were way too bland until he more than doubled the seasoning in them. (He used Old Bay -- but he didn't use near enough of it for our tastes.)

WDW's restaurants predominantly serve the tourist market, and they tend to keep things a bit on the bland side because conventional wisdom in the hospitality industry is that you have to cater to the broadest possible customer base. American palates have supposedly gotten a bit more daring in the last 20 years or so, but resort food is still catching up.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

OMG, did I just see a pic of a crabcake with corn over it?? I can't believe it! The pic of the crabcakes from G&M Restaraunt near BWI Airport are the real deal!!! I have had them, and they are my all time favorite! Order them, you will not regret it! Its just not fair to call the other recipes crabcakes when they aren't prepared like they were originally meant to taste. Would be like using ketcup for your steak sauce!

 

[Snow_White]

I'm a Marylander and posted a crab cake pic a while ago...was it mine?

This is a double crabcake platter from G&M, which is near BWI Airport. Huge jumbo lump, broiled, not much filler and very reasonably priced! I love it with lemon and drawn butter... This joint is nothing to look at, but gets packed, for good reason. They do ship if you're not in the area, but it's pricey. I have had "crabcakes" in WDW, and they weren't bad, but I was not expecting MD crabcakes either... http://www.gandmcrabcakes.com

Now THAT'S a crabcake! YUMMY!

 

[BillSears]

I'm a Marylander and posted a crab cake pic a while ago...was it mine?

This is a double crabcake platter from G&M, which is near BWI Airport. Huge jumbo lump, broiled, not much filler and very reasonably priced! I love it with lemon and drawn butter... This joint is nothing to look at, but gets packed, for good reason. They do ship if you're not in the area, but it's pricey. I have had "crabcakes" in WDW, and they weren't bad, but I was not expecting MD crabcakes either... http://www.gandmcrabcakes.com

I live about 7 miles from G&M but it's been a few years since I've been there. I really ought to drop by for some crabcakes soon.

 

[MommaPooh217]

I live about 7 miles from G&M but it's been a few years since I've been there. I really ought to drop by for some crabcakes soon.

I love G&M's crab cakes. We also live about 5 minutes from G&M. They have really good shrimp salad too.Faidley's in Lexington Market has awesome crab cakes too !



Blessed Be,
Tina