I’ve been eating crab cakes my whole life, mostly along the Chesapeake Bay. So, when I heard the rumors-that a little dockside grill in North Carolina, Rusty Hooks, was serving a cake that supposedly surpassed the Bay’s best-I laughed. It felt like culinary blasphemy.
But my friend insisted I investigate.
I drove down, skeptical but hungry, ready to call their bluff. The grill itself was simple, smelling of salt and fry oil. I sat down, determined to put this southern pretender to the ultimate test.
First Bite
My fork sank into the golden crust with a satisfying crunch, and suddenly the table chatter faded into background noise. That first bite delivered a mouthful of sweet, briny jumbo lump crab held together by just enough seasoning to let the seafood shine…