Let's eat crab

The annual Crab Bash cook-off takes place next Tuesday, Aug. 7, at B&O American Brasserie. And if you haven't been in previous years, you've been missing out on some delicious crabby dishes prepared by local and visiting chefs.

You also get to pick your favorite one. Attendees will be able to sample all the selections and then vote on the dish they like the best. The winning chef receives a "People's Choice" award.

You can tell by the participating chefs that the decision will be a tough one. So far, these chefs have signed up:

B&O American Brasserie's Thomas Dunklin
Alewife's Chad Wells
The Wine Market's Wilbur Cox
Rusty Scupper's Mark Miranda
Chef's Expressions's Jerry Edwards
Square 1682's Guillermo Tellez (Philadelphia)
The Food Market's Chad Gauss
Corner BYOB's Bernard Dehaene
Zentan's Jerry Zheng (Washington, DC)
Atwood Cafe's Derek Simcik (Chicago)

I can't wait. For the third year, I'll be on a judging panel to decide "Best in Show" for the competition. Joining me will be Reagan Warfield of Mix 106.5, Tim Williams of WJZ, and Tracey Middlekauff of Urbanite. What a fun group to pig out with.

Besides the generous amount of food, guests will also enjoy cocktails created exclusively for the event by members of the Baltimore Bartenders' Guild. There will be music, too.

Tickets are $50 a person, with a large portion of the proceeds benefiting the National Aquarium. Purchase them online.

Hope to see you there.