Cape Charles Rotary Club’s Crab Cakes make a statement

Cape Charles Rotary Club’s Crab Cakes have achieved perfection! The Cape Charles Rotary Club does not make that claim boastfully, it’s simply reporting feedback from its many satisfied customers. Eastern Shore connoisseurs have long praised the taste and quality of the Rotary Club’s 100% crab meat, no filler, crab cakes. However, some of its most loyal customers had questioned the uniformity of the crab cake’s size.

Uniformity was an issue because each crab cake is handmade. The adoption of #8 ice cream scoops to control portions has made all customers equally happy. And that’s only half the product improvement story. The introduction of a Panko bread crumbs that replaced an unexciting cracker meal coating was the “coup de grâce”. Demand for Rotary crab cakes has soared dramatically over the last few years.

The history of the Cape Charles Rotary crab cake goes back to the 1980’s when a donated pop-up tent trailer was converted to a crab cake sales stand and the Club began its signature fundraising program. Grant Robbins and Cliff Thibodeaux, now deceased, lead the trailer conversion effort. Back then, crab cake sandwiches were prepared and sold at Cape Charles’ July 4th and fall festivals.

It was fun selling the sandwiches to the holiday crowd, but it was demanding work and sales were limited. Furthermore, the health department began to frown upon the cooking arrangement and the “crank-up” camper became a maintenance issue. Around the turn of the century, the Club began selling uncooked crab cakes to families and friends in increasing numbers.

These days Rotary crab cakes are prepared at the Cape Charles Rescue Squad station, as the Eastern Shore has come to expect these treats for July 4th festivities and Thanksgiving feasts. Many long-time buyers purchase multiple trays and freeze them for use throughout the year. The crab cakes are offered for $6.00 each in trays of six. The order deadline for July 4th enjoyment is June 23rd.

Any Cape Charles Rotarian will gladly accept your order as the proceeds support the Rotary’s many charitable projects up and down the Eastern Shore. Contact Bill Payne at 331-4047 (payne1942@msn.com) if you have questions or simply wish to place your order. The Cape Charles Rotary Club thanks its supporters for their continued support.

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Wayne Creed

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