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Restaurants Are Celebrating Soft-Shell Crab Week

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- It's a Maryland delicacy, and if you like them, this is your week to enjoy.  Baltimore is celebrating soft-shell crabs.

Ron Matz reports some local restaurants are offering specials and their own delicious recipes.

Crisfeld is one of the Chesapeake Bay's richest crabbing areas, and it is also known as the "soft-shell capital" of the world.

The Inn at the Black Olive in Fells Point is one of the places celebrating Baltimore's Soft-Shell Crab Week.

"Soft-shells are really as Baltimore and Maryland as anything can be. Our goal was to take this jewel of the Chesapeake Bay and clothe it into the wonderful ingredients of Greece," said Stelios Spiliadis, Inn at the Black Olive. "We have produced a wonderful dish. The soft-shell is wrapped in filo pastry and it's delicious. We have it at our restaurant, the Black Olive, and it's available at our market."

In Maryland we love our crabs and the soft-shell season is just beginning.

This is Baltimore's 3rd annual Soft-Shell Crab Celebration and 17 restaurants are participating.

"There's a growing number of restaurants participating. There's a lot of emphasis these days on farm to table and this is just 'bay to table.' Soft-shell crabs are a Maryland tradition. It's a rite of spring, it's a sign that summer is here," said Mike Evitts, Downtown Partnership. "The promotion grows every year. What's really impressive is the number of restaurants that we have and the quality of the restaurants. We've got some of Baltimore's best restaurants and we've got some neighborhood favorites, where the price points are really reasonable."

Greek-style soft-shells are mouth-watering.

"Our version is made with soft-shell crab, feta cheese wrapped in filo pastry and baked and voila, you have the most wonderful and spectacular soft-shell crab. It's a hit, it's a winner," said Pauline Spiliadis, The Inn at the Black Olive. "People love soft-shells. We sell them as fast as we get them in the door. We never have enough, never."

Baltimore's Soft-Shell Crab Celebration continues through next Monday, Memorial Day. For more information, click here.

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