How do I get crabs?

[RottenRow]

at the risk of asking a dim question I want to make a crab starter for Christmas and I'm not sure where to get the crab. I assume I'll have to get it pretty close to the day so do I put in an order at a fishmonger or will supermarkets generally stock it? Should I buy it when I see it and freeze it?

Also the recipe calls for a ratio of White to brown meat. I'm not sure what the difference is?

No don't live by the sea imagine it's very easy to catch them there.

I've got a Lidl brochure here, it says they are selling whole frozen brown crab pre-cooked and ready for dressing for £2.99

somebloke :o

I dressed a crab myself for the very first time recently - with the help of Delia on line and FIL on the phone who in his career on the gas platforms spent a lot of time crabbing. Was surprisingly easy to do. Messy, though.
And I bought the crab from the local newsagents. That's Norfolk for you.

Am thinking I don't want to be doing the messy stuff. Is a dressed crab the cooked version?

Yes - dressed is both cooked and with the meat sorted/de-shelled, then prettily put back into the shell for effect. Or you can buy them cooked but not dressed.

That sounds perfect, then all I have to do is assemble.

Will have to be a foreign crab though because Christmas is out of season.

I am sooo immature, just had to click on this!

On topic, I live near the sea and there are always fishermen selling their catch by the coast. Other than that I can be no help, sorry.

Best. Thread title. Ever

Sorry have just choked on my cuppa... then I saw thread was in food topic..

Oh how hysterical!!! DH just wondered what was wrong with me so has so had to show him the title!!

Do you have a fish Monger nearby? They would sell them or just sleep with a dirty chav.