This past Sunday, we decided to hop in the car and head out to the coast for a fun family day! We are trying to make an effort to have a least one weekend day where we get the kids away from video games and YouTube (is Fortnite driving you crazy?) to go seek out an adventure!...This can be something simple like going to the movies, taking the kids to get Boba Milk Tea and a stroll around the mall, or hopping in the car to go exploring..which is what we chose to do this past Sunday in Half Moon Bay, CA!
Outfit Details:
My husband loves to go fishing and he is an excellent cook! He thought it would be fun to take the kids to Pillar Point Harbor so we could pick up some Dungeness crabs fresh off the commercial fishing boats that morning! Pillar Point Harbor is about 25 miles north of San Francisco along the beautiful Highway 1 coast in Half Moon Bay, CA. Crabbing season begins in November and concludes in June. You can typically get a great deal on fresh catch live crabs. Make sure you check prices from a few Captains as they sometimes vary from boat to boat. You can generally pick up Dungeness Crab from $9-10 dollars per pound but prices vary from season to season. You'll want to check the fish sales information at the Harbor Master's office before you bring your empty cooler to fill up with crab! You can also get general information about the surf, tide, and weather conditions.
Going to the coast on a winter day in January? That means come prepared with lots of layers and possibly a raincoat. Thankfully, the rain stayed away and the weather was quite nice in the 60's! I love this casual red, white, and blue nautical look for winter. Who says you can't wear white after Labor Day? I always do!
Pillar Point Harbor is a quaint and small fishing village also known as Princeton by the Sea. Johnson Pier and Pillar Point Marina are the center of the village. There are some great restaurants to keep your stomach full of good food and plenty of locally owned shops to pick up your favorite beach souvenirs and trinkets. You can also schedule whale sighting tours, rent kayaks from the HMB Kayak Company, go sports fishing, take a nature walk, and visit the famous Mavericks Surf Company where you can get fully outfitted for a little surfing fun - they even offer lessons!
The picture below shows the commercial anglers weighing and bagging up our Dungeness crabs from their boat. Make sure you bring a small cooler to keep them fresh. You can pick up ice at the Pillar Point marina store. Have you ever tried Dungeness crabs? I'll show you how we prepared and cooked them by the end of this post!
My family and our good friend Dave!
Collin and Jack carrying their picks!
By 1:00 pm and we were starving for some food! We decided to grab a bite on site at Ketch Joanne's restaurant where we enjoyed bloody marys from the bar to start! I'm still doing a 21 day body cleanse/detox so I cheated a little by having alcohol, but it was worth the cheat! The Bloody Mary's were just the way I love them...spicy! I ordered a grilled chicken salad which also could be served with crab or shrimp, my kids ordered crab quesadillas which they loved, my husband ordered the Princeton omelette, and our friend Dave had a bowl of their famous clam chowder (a must try)! Needless to say, the food and service was amazing and the dining atmosphere was spectacular! We sat inside by the wood burning fireplace which kept us warm and cozy. There is additional outside dining if you prefer sitting in the fresh air with your pets overlooking the marina and ocean! Ketch Joanne's is a restaurant you don't want to miss during your visit!
Cocktails! Spicy Bloody Mary from Ketch Joanne's!
Old wood burning stove at Ketch Joanne's to keep your dining experience warm and cozy!
Outdoor patio seating area
When we arrived home, the guys quickly went to work cleaning and preparing the crabs!
1) First, you'll want to get a big pot of water boiling. My husband likes to season the water with Old Bay Seasoning to help bring out the flavor.
2) Next, you'll want to cut and clean the crabs. Some people just throw the crabs in the boiling water whole. However, our preference is to clean them first since they are bottom feeders. You'll want to pick up the crab by their back legs so you don't get pinched and set the crab on a butcher block on their back.
3) Use a large and sharp butcher knife and carefully apply pressure to cut the crab down the middle of their body. Don't cut the crab all the way through to their outer shell. You only need to cut down enough to easily release the legs from their body
4) Have a bucket of clean water nearby to quickly clean and rinse the crab legs.
5) Once all your crabs are cut and cleaned you are ready to place them in the boiling water, Boil the crab legs with the lid on for about 20 minutes until they turn red and are done.
6) While the crabs are boiling pull out your favorite cocktail sauce or make your own. We use ketchup and fresh horseradish to make a spicy dipping sauce!
7) Once the crabs are cooked you are ready for your crab feast! It's a little work cracking the crab and digging out the meat but it's all worth it!
I made a fresh green salad topped with our crab and balsamic dressing! It was super delicious!
You can keep the cooked crab in your refrigerator for a few days but it's best the freeze them in sealed plastic bags if you want to save left overs! That way they will stay fresh for your next crab feast!
If ever you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, make sure to stop by Half Moon Bay and Pillar Point Harbor for some coastal fun! This was a great way to spend time with our family and get outdoors! We came home with our meal planned for dinner ocean to table!
Hope you all are having a great 2019 so far! Please share your favorite crab recipes you like to eat and let me know if you like to see more cooking and meal preparation on San Francisco Bay Style!
Adventure is out there! Go get it!
xoxoxo,
Hayley
