Tampa Delight Devilled Crabs

Florida has always been known for its' vast array of seafood and seafood dishes. The hot spots for these were always Key West and , of course, Miami. However Tampa is known for it as well. The city's specialty is devilled crabs, the perfect dish for watching the sun go down over the Gulf of Mexico. It's a local favorite and one that has a few variations.


New York Times regular contributor, John T Edge, wrote about the dish in today's Dining section.. The dish is sort of similar to Maryland's famed crab cakes except that devilled crabs are more flattened patties than cakes. They are rolled crab meat and breadcrumbs that are then deep fried. The breadcrumbs come from Cuban bread which is sort of a variation of Italian or French baguettes.. The bread goes stale almost overnight and makes for crispy crunchy crumbs kin dof similar to the Japanese pangko ones.. The fritters are also made with paprika and a little salt for flavor and color. They were first made during a violent strike in the 1920s to sustain striking tabaqueros or cigar rollers and factory owners.





There's also the debate of who has the best devilled crab.It used to be Tampa's favorite Sea Breeze restaurant that closed almost a decade ago . Others swear by the still operating Bracato's Sandwich Shop. There is also the West Tampa Sandwich Shop that sells the sandwiches that are as big as a boxer's fist. Actually it doesn't matter where you go in the town . Sandwich shops all over the area sell devilled crab sandwiches right next to the Tampa's other favorite: Cuban pork sandwiches.





Tampa is known for beautiful sunsets and azure Gulf waters. It's also famous for these killer sandwiches that locals and visitors clamor for : devilled crabs. This is Tampa's best and tastiest attraction!