Sunday, July 11, 2010

Cloudy With A Chance of Crabcakes


Saturday we finally got some rain...much needed rain!  It was cloudy most of the day, but by dinner time it was starting to clear up just a little.



Mr. Tide, Bugs, and I spent the day doing errands and just hanging out together.



And when our son headed over to a friend's house for the evening we decided we really should try and figure out what we were going to have for dinner.  After debating the merits of going to the grocery store, we both decided that we would head out to eat instead.



As the more particular eater in the family I usually pick the restaurant, but tonight I told Mr. Tide to decide.  So off he drove to St. George Island (most of us locals call it St. Georges, even though technically there is no "s" on George) to visit a restaurant we've never been to.  St. George Island was the site of the first battle of the Revolutionary War in Maryland back in July of 1776.  Today it is home to an eclectic mix of both homes and people.  It's a charming little part of Maryland which is very prone to the wrath of mother nature and due to it's low lying nature, it sometimes floods.  So it's always attracted brave families who can stand strong even when they have to start from scratch following hurricanes or tropical storms!



Such was the case for a landmark restaurant know as Evans Seafood.  I think it is actually called the Island Bar and Grill these days, but no one who is from around here will ever call it anything but Evans!  Although I had not been to "this" Evans restaurant, I had been to its predecessor many times before it was destroyed by a hurricane a few years ago.



Like the phoenix rising from the ashes, a new and more modern Evans restaurant now calls St. Georges home, and I have been wanting to visit it for a while now.  It has recently changed management and chefs, and I had heard great things about it, so we decided tonight was the perfect time to check it out.



If you've ever wondered how to find a good seafood restaurant almost anywhere in the US, all you have to do is drive down a road until you end up at the water and then look for a broken down looking building and a tattered sign with a picture of a crab or a fish on it.  That's how old seafood restaurants that haven't been destroyed by a hurricane look, but since Evans was destroyed, they decided to gussy up the place a little when they rebuilt it, and this water tower now serves as a way of letting you know "you're here"!



It's kind of hard to miss the crab house when there is a giant crab beckoning from above!



And I love this giant tape measure or whatever you want to call it on the side.  I assume it's used to measure the water level in the tank, and if it's filled by rain water then it's not too surprising that it's so low!



The restaurant is located across the street from the Potomac River and right on a creek, so the views are wonderful.  And of course you can paddle, sail, or motor on over for a drink or a bite to eat, so what's not to love?!



Even on a cloudy day it was worth taking a stroll down to the end of the pier!



Inside, lots of windows, a casual atmosphere, whitewashed walls, and little reminders to kick back and enjoy yourself can be found throughout.



We ran in to several friends that we haven't seem for awhile which was great fun!  And the crab cake meal I had was quite tasty!  Mr. Tide had the fish and chips and said his was yummy too!  But the best part of my entire meal, were the hush puppies!!!  I could have skipped the veggies and the crab cake and just eaten hush puppies!  And you know you are in southern Maryland when the server asks you if you want honey with your hush puppies....YES, is the correct response...yum!



After saying goodbye to our friends and heading back outside I snapped a few photos of the nautical decor outside the restaurant.  These old barnacle covered crab pot buoys remind visitors of the important role watermen and women have played in our area.



And an old boat propeller, tucked behind tall ornamental grasses, sports a nice fresh coat of white paint and adds a nice nautical touch!



For folks traveling from out of town, there is even a small hotel next door to the restaurant.  You can ask for a room with a creek view, or one that overlooks the river, either way you can't go wrong!



When we left the restaurant the sky had finally cleared and I was able to capture a beautiful sunset!



It was hard to get good pictures of the sinking sun with the low light, but we stood and watched it until the giant orange ball had completely slipped away to start the day in another part of the world.

All in all it was a wonderful day, a little rain, a little relaxing and a little crab...now that's living!  I hope you had a wonderful Saturday too!

29 comments:

  1. So pretty - I love the red crab and the giant tape measure on the side of the water tower, and the long dock extending out into the river. I have to say, in my mind hush puppies are a kind of shoe, so I have no idea why you would want honey with them.

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  2. That water tower with the crab on it is too cute! I could just eat good hush puppies all the time but don't. ♣olive

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  3. Oh my gosh! Incredible pics. Love the crab water tower, but the sunset - that sunset. Wow!

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  4. Lovely photos ~ My husbands whole family is located throughout Maryland, but I have never visited St. Georges. I have , however, been to St. Michaels several times and it is adorable. We have often toyed with the idea of buying a small weekend house there, because we visit so often. Something about that whole area just loaded with history....and crabcakes:):):)

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  5. What a delicious post! I'm not quite sure what hush puppies are but anything with honey sounds good. I have been crazy busy with work and now just catching up. I love Kylee and Quinn's adventures. You are always so interesting and with beautiful pictures. Thank you.

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  6. Gorgeous pictures! What a lovely time you must have had.

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  7. Not fair to make my mouth water for seafood so early in the morning.
    Years ago we spent many weekends on the Maryland shore, crabbing and camping at Assitigue and Chincotigue (spelling?) We never caught much, so always made sure to stop for a great meal at some small restaurant before heading back north. We still have our crab traps!

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  8. Beautiful pictures! Love the crab on the tower and all the writing on the walls. The sunsets are gorgeous!! Looks like you had a wonderful time. Good for you!

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  9. Every time we have moved we do our best in our new location to find a favorite quaint, local restaurant. I can see that we would like this one!

    Di

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  10. What a lovely stroll around the island I feel I've had with you Kat! Just one question - what's a hush puppy? (besides shoes, of course).

    I am making moules mariniére tonight for company, now hoping that they eat seafood - I do know some people can't...

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  11. Love the graphics. I think I'll put something like that on my patio screen.

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  12. Beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing, post is almost like being there.

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  13. I love that water tower!
    And all of the other Low Tide
    goodies that you've captured,
    here! I actually love a summer
    day filled with clouds and rain,
    especially if it's been really
    hot. Sounds like it was perfection,
    including the hush puppies : )
    Happy Sunday, Kat! xx Suzanne

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  14. We took the hoodlums there last week before the fourth and had a wonderful meal, the kids were so well behaved and we beat the dinner rush. I heard it changed chefs after the fact. Glad you had such a wonderful evening. By the way, my camera is on its way, watch out world, my pics may be clear.

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  15. Wow! What a fun evening. Never been to St. Georges and your description of how to find a good seafood restaurant is pretty good!

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  16. What a lovely, lovely evening! I wish I lived there!

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  17. A hush puppy is a fried ball of cornbread. The story goes that soldiers during the Civil War used to throw a piece of their fried cornbread to their dogs to keep them quiet...hence the name "hush" puppy. It's very much a southern food, and the ones around here are always served with seafood. The further south you go the less likely someone is to offer you honey with them, but here in southern Maryland and Virginia you will almost always be offered honey. Butter is good with them, but honey is the best!!

    You can sometimes find bags of hush puppies at southern grocery stores and you just put them on a cookie sheet and pop them in the over to re-heat them. The ones from the grocery store are not usually round and are more like a tiny chicken finger shape.

    Kat :)

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  18. I love the words in the first sign! Your sunset photos are very pretty.

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  19. Wow this looks like the perfect day. Thanks for sharing your day and photos with us. Thanks for telling us what hush puppies were.
    Alison

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  20. Love crabcakes, love fish and chips...and I have no idea how long it's been since I had hushpuppies... I think I was a child visiting Florida relatives... but oh, what I wouldn't do for a taste of them again.

    Thanks for the tour, I love posts like this...

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  21. Oh I always love seeing photos of where my blogging friends live:) That restaurant looks fabulous! I love crabcakes, but had never heard of hushpuppies! (In Australia, hushpuppies are a brand of shoe!). Glad you got to enjoy a lovely meal Kat!! Hope you have a lovely week ~ Tina x

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  22. Maryland crabcakes are the best! We always have them when go to visit the in-laws.

    -Rene

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  23. Ohhhh....I just wanted to sit on those rocks by the shoreline and gaze out to sea the rest of the day.....Just breathtaking. Your photos were just beautiful. This was such a wonderful trip in my busy day, and I now feel rested and relaxed. Thank you! :)

    xoxo laurie@heavens-walk

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  24. The sunset photos are awe inspiring! Sounds like you had what I would consider...the perfect day! We've had a little rain today and everything looks so green and lush! I've been on the balcony taking photos of the mountains..of course! lol Have a nice evening! Did you bring home any leftovers? ♥

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  25. Your setting sun pictures were magnificient! Love the title of your post, what a fun day you had! ~Lili

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  26. You're absolutely right, those little ramshackle places at the shore always have the best food!

    I also read in your comment that the further South you go, the least likely you are to be offered honey with your hush puppies. That must be true, because I love them, but never tried them with honey.

    Sounds like Mr. Tide found a great spot and that sunset is stunning.

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  27. Kat, thank you so much for sharing so many wonderful places in Maryland. We moved here almost 4 years ago when my twin girls were entering high school. We previously lived in NC and have been very homesick for it. As an adult it is hard meeting moms and making friends when your children are in HS. Finding and reading your blog has made me just want to discover MD even more and get to know it better. It is a beautiful state and I wish we lived closer to the water. Thank you soooo much for the wonderful pictures and stories.

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  28. Thank you everyone! And Pam what a lovely thing to say! I was born and raised in Maryland so my heart will always be here, just as yours remains in NC. But while living and traveling to other places during my lifetime I have always seen it as a wonderful opportunity to explore what each place has to offer and find those special traits unique to each location! Please send me an email at kgwhouse@gmail.com to let me know where you are located in Maryland.

    Kat :)

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  29. i grew up on the island, it is my home, used to go to Evans when it was one room and all the kids lived upstairs. My grandmother's whole family lived there know all the "old timers" will be down in a week and can't wait.

    patti

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