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| The crabs are still flowing at Alioto's but not elsewhere in the Bay |
This past week has been a heartbreaking one for shellfish lovers. First the Feds announced that they were shutting down the fourth-generation-owned
Drakes Bay Oyster Company and now local Dungeness fisherman have gone on strike, refusing to take out their boats because of a threat by brokers to cut prices, due in part to what some say was a glut of supplies. “It’s a big bummer,” says Annette Yang, proprietor of
Nettie’s Crab Shack. “Unlike last year, the local season started on time and it was a huge boost to get crab before Thanksgiving. Usually the haggling happen before the season opens. So far the crabs have been big, sweet and delicious.” Nettie’s Crab Shack has enough supply of fresh whole crabs to last through today, but after that she’ll just have to wait and see. “I’m hoping it’ll get resolved soon. Our customers will pay whatever the rate is. They really love to eat crab.”
We don't mean to sound like a scab, but a quick call around to local restaurants confirmed that while most places like
Half Moon Bay Brewing Company have been affected by the strike, several places - including
Waterbar in San Francisco,
Fish in Sausalito and
Nick’s Cove in Marshall - tell us they will honor the strike that but still have enough supply on hand to serve the local delicacy for a few more days. Curiously, a rep from the famous crab-slinger Alioto’s assures us that he got fresh live crabs delivered today and is serving them both in the restaurant and from the crab stands out front, though he couldn’t confirm which waters the crabs were coming from. The strike isn’t expected to last more than a few days.
