Island Life Magazine Ltd April/May 2008 | Page 100

life

FOOD & DRINK

Local lobster leagues ahead
and crab dressed to kill
The name says it all. The Best
Dressed Crab in Town. This
delightful small family-run
specialist business in Bembridge
has been established for
twelve years, selling only
the freshest, finest, locallycaught crabs and lobsters.
The dressed crabs themselves
are served ready to eat in
their shells. You can choose
whole crabs, or amazing giant
crab claws. Then there are
the tubs of fresh crab which
you can take home and use
in whichever way you like.
The shop is also a mecca for
fans of lobster and prawns.
The fresh local lobsters are
simply cooked and prepared
– not even salt is added to
the water to compromise its
purity – or it is available live.
For a real delicacy, hold on till
between July and September
to try Bembridge prawns.
Large Raw Tiger prawns are
sold either whole, tail on or
peeled and de-veined. They
make a wonderful addition to
any barbeque. All produce
is subject to availability.
It might be The Best Dressed
Crab in Town, but every natty
dresser has to have time to
prepare for their big night. So
in order to supply the demand

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at busy times such as bank
holidays the livestock is kept in
tanks deep out to sea during
the week and brought in and
cooked for the weekend.
Most of the Island’s most
prestigious hotels and
restaurants are clients of
the business. Owner Tina
is almost blasé when she
hears yet another satisfied
customer call it “the most
delicious crab in the world”.
Almost, but not quite.
“Did you know our Lobsters
are actually some of the
cheapest in the world?” she
asks.“Thailand, Borneo and
Dublin sell for around £30
plus per kilo – compared with
our floating prices of between
£20 and £23 per kilo.”
She also points to the very
real difference between
American or Australian
“lobster”, which is actually
crayfish. “There is no
comparison in taste. Our
local lobster is leagues ahead
of any in the world.”
To buy some of this lovely
crab and lobster please contact
Tina, Best Dressed Crab in
Town on 01983 874758 or
call into Ivar Cottage, Hillway,
Bembridge. Open 7 days

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