Exquisite Shanghainese Hairy Crabs at J.W. Marriott
When I first heard of ‘Hairy Crab‘, I imagined it to be a shelled creature with lots of hair all over the body. Yes, I have to admit this was my first time seeing, touching, feeling and eating a Hairy Crab. In fact, it looked just like any other type of crab, except that it’s much smaller, and with hairy legs. I had the privilege to taste the seasonal hairy crabs at Shanghai Restaurant in J.W. Marriott hotel.
Interior of Shanghai Restaurant, J.W. Marriott
Apparently, hairy crabs are only available during the autumn season in China, where the sky is blue and the air is crisp. It’s also the weather when the hairy crabs are most succulent and delicious. This delicate crustacean is only available from the ninth to eleventh months in the Chinese lunar calendar. Shanghai Restaurant, being the only hotel Chinese restaurant in KL that specializes in exquisite Shanghai cuisine, is proud to create several palatable dishes made from hairy crab. We were lucky to be there on the day they restocked the hairy crabs! Look at their fridge!
Hairy Crab new stock in the fridge!
Raw Shanghainese hairy crab
Closer look at the hairs
After taking a look at the crabs, we were fascinated and couldn’t wait to taste it!
Tidbits
We started with the Steamed Shanghainese Hairy Crabs, which looked pretty small compared to the average crab size. But just look at the amount of roe inside!
Steamed Shanghainese Hairy Crab (market price)
Exquisite hairy crab from Shanghai
With the small size of a crab, it is expected to have less meat compared to the usual, but its prized possession is really the roe. Rich and semi-liquid, it tasted a little like salted egg yolk but with crab goodness. Really, it’s something that you have to taste to feel it.
Luxurious Crab roe
The waiters served the crabs very delicately and professionally. After serving us the carapace, they used the scissors to cut off the legs and pincers and served them on another plate. So very meticulous, don’t you think? The meat was just bite-size but sweet and tender.
Crab legs and pincers on a plate
Hairy crab is supposed to have a ‘cooling’ effect to our body, whereby excessive amount of it would lead to fainting or dizziness. Therefore, a glass of warm ginger tea was served to counter the ‘cooling’ effect of the crabs. And this tea was refilled unlimited times, too! Saucer and I both loved the tea!
Ginger tea
After savouring the steamed hairy crabs, we were served some dishes creatively carved from Hairy Crabs. But before that, some vegetarian appetizers!
Cold jelly fish
Deep fried vegetarian dish
Deep fried vegetarian eel
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Comments (19)
The crab really looked small. :p dnt like it. hahaha. but love the mango dessert!!
Caroline recently posted..MM – Bye Bye by Mariah Carey
I think that pomelo dessert is Yeung Ji Kam Lou
mimid3vils recently posted..The One Cafe eat enjoy entertain
HAHAHA OMG! I KNEW I was going to get it wrong! ALWAYS mixed up the phrase! LOL! Thanks for the correction dear
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I nvr try hairy crab b4…
uLi recently posted..My Wedding Invitation -
yummy….heard KIng Crab also have Hairy crabs
smallkucing recently posted..Big Bad Wolf Warehouse Sale & Pao Xiang Bak Kut Teh- Glenmarie
lovely meal it was but not enuff ohmmm
ai wei recently posted..Tanzini @ GTower- Jalan Tun Razak- KL
wah those roe ….. so syok …. so good if put on my char koey teow
email2me recently posted..Reminisce Restaurant Mid Valley Megamall KL Brings Back Old Memories
hmmm, i don’t fancy eating the crab roe actually, for me i prefer a lot of meat after i crack open the hard shell.. haha!! that custard bun looks nice leh..
[SK] recently posted..25102010 浮上水面
wahhh..the crabs so nicely sitting quietly there … so how do they taste? havent really tried hairy crabs before..
claire recently posted..All The Best To You!
If you love crab roe, you will LOVE this!
Hello Witchy. I don’t take much of seafood, so was not exactly appetised by the sight of hairy crabs.
But the deserts looks yummy – I love Mango with pomelo.
Shingo T recently posted..Big is beautiful
I love their presentation.. awesome..
Shirleen recently posted..Mazda Convoy Oct 2010 – Cherating
Yalor…I expected the whole crab, all hairy one! LOL!!! Oooo…I love crab roe, and so much of it! Yum!!! Marriot? Not very expensive leh? I thought the things would be quite unaffordable…
suituapui recently posted..Sooner than later…
Surprising right! Never try, never know!!
What is the price of the promotion ?
bushido,
You mean the price of the steamed hairy crab? It depends on the size of the crab chosen.
wow it was an awesome experiene!
Big Boys Oven recently posted..THE POMELO Banjaran Hotspring Retreat MIGF 2010
Hi… Is Shanghai @ JW Marriott halal or pork-free? Also how much is the meal that you had (so I can estimate the budget)