Crab Time!!
Get ready for CRAB FEAST MENDOCINO 2019!
One of our favorite times of the year has recently started… Crab season! Not only do we now have access to some of the most amazing locally-caught crab, we get to revel in this bit of the ocean’s bounty very soon during CRAB FEAST MENDOCINO 2019. This crab extravaganza, which used to be called the Crab Festival, will take place January 18-27. It’s going to be 10 glorious days of crab, wine, beer, and more crab.
There are a whole slew of events going on during this county-wide celebration of our favorite crustacean, from guided nature walks at the Stornetta Headlands to high end wine maker’s dinners at Goldeneye Winery and the Noyo Harbor Inn. We’ve been perusing the list of offerings, trying to pick out all the ones we want to go to. The crab feed at the Little River Inn the very first night might be a great way to kick off the festival. Then the Skunk Train is having their Crab & Cremant trip each Sunday during the festival – enjoying delectable crab chowder and sparkling Cremant wine while winding through redwoods aboard their historic train sounds like way too much fun!
We’re also contemplating a day of wine tasting in the Anderson Valley during one of the weekends of the festival, because most of the wineries are getting into the crab frenzy too! Pennyroyal Farm is doing a Sea-Inspired Wine & Food Pairing the 26th & 27th right around lunch time that sounds absolutely amazing. And several wineries will have crabby little goodies available to pair with their tasting pours both weekends, including Brutocao Cellars, Husch Vineyards, Handley Cellars, Phillips Hill, and Seebass Family Wines (all of which we often pour here at the inn during our Wine Hour).
Another spot we are definitely hitting up during the Crab Feast is Princess Seafood Market & Deli. The all-women crew of the locally loved Princess fishing boat recently took over an old deli in Noyo Harbor up in Fort Bragg, and they deliver some of the finest, freshest seafood you can find anywhere. Guy and his wife Sarah have been there several times already, and they rave about how good the crab rolls are.
Of course, far and away the highlight of the Crab Feast for us here at the inn is the Crab Cake Cook-off on January 26th. For a long time we were simply delighted partakers in all the creative crab cakes and wines that feature in the competition. Then two years ago we entered the competition ourselves, and it has been SO MUCH fun! Last year Chef Victor drew long lines of tasters begging for seconds and even thirds of his ridiculously delicious crab cakes inspired by the flavors from his hometown down in Mexico. We’re planning on participating again this year, and he’s pretty excited to hone his tasty crab creations and make them even better.
Now we just have to go buy our tickets to these festival treats before they all sell out… and once you’ve booked your stay with us, you should too!
Written by Laura Hockett