Crabs 101

Phillips Seafood is hosting two crab-themed events this weekend to celebrate Harborplace’s 30th anniversary: Crabology 101 on Friday and a crab-cake-eating contest on Saturday. Magazine intern Elizabeth Laseter tells us more:

Both events will be held at the Harborplace Amphitheater in the Inner Harbor and are open to the public free of charge.

“Crabologist” Donald Manning, pictured, will share his crustacean knowledge at noon Friday with a series of culinary demonstrations. As silly as it sounds, a crabologist is no laughing matter. Manning has worked as Phillips’s blue-crab expert since 1991 and travels around the country, teaching the “how-to’s” of crab-meat prep, its health benefits, and more to consumers.

Manning plans to cover myriad topics, including the difference between crab claw meat and jumbo lump meat, and which kind he prefers for crab cakes. He’ll also offer recipe samplings to guests.

On Saturday, 16 contestants will show off their face-stuffing abilities in the crab-cake-eating contest. Each participant will have 3 minutes and 30 seconds to eat nine (3.25 ounce) Phillips crab cakes. The first one to finish or eat the most within the time limit is the winner.

Michelle Torres, director of marketing for Phillips Seafood, describes the event: “No professional food eaters allowed here. It’s just ordinary people like you and me putting their love for Baltimore and crab cakes to the test.”

Contestants entered the contest a few weeks ago on Phillips’s Facebook page, posting why they should participate. Posts ranged from, “It would be a dream come true,” to “I love America, crabs, and Baltimore!”