5 Reasons to Check Out Crabfest at Red Lobster

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Hi friends! The all elusive date night. We love them, but with three kids in tow these days they are few and far between. So when we get the opportunity, we make the most of it. Earlier this month we had said opportunity and we chose to head down to our favorite Red Lobster in Goodyear, AZ to check out Crabfest! Red Lobster Crabfest 2017 is the perfect experience for any crab enthusiast on any day of the week; we had such a great experience that we’re sharing 5 Reasons to Check Out Crabfest at Red Lobster!

1) All New Crab! This year, you can experience two brand new types of wild-caught crab on the Crabfest menu while supplies last: Dungeness and Southern King. All together, you can try up to five types of wild-caught crab from waters off the coasts of Alaska, Canada and near the coasts of South America, including:

• North American Snow Crab: Snow Crab is known for its trademark large clusters, snowy-white meat and sweet, delicate flavor.
• Southern King Crab: Southern King Crab, found primarily off the Pacific Coast of South America, features a mild flavor and delicate texture.
• Dungeness Crab: Dungeness Crab is caught from the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of North America, boasting a salty and sweet flavor, with stronger flavors in the claw and leg meat.
• Alaska King Crab: This is the largest of Alaska’s three crab species, prized for its leg meat, rich flavor and tender texture.
• Blue Crab: Blue Crab, most commonly used for crab cakes, is found along the Atlantic Coast of North America and features a sweet flavor and softer texture.

So if you’re a crab fanatic – this is a great time for you to perhaps try something new OR get the chance to try your favorite crab selections all in one place!

2) New and Exclusive Crab Dishes! This year Red Lobster has introduced several new and exclusive crab dishes during Crabfest, including the Southern King Crab Leg Dinner  with whole Southern King crab legs served with choice of two sides. The Shrimp-Topped Crab Cake Dinner with two shrimp-topped premium crab cakes with a white-wine and butter sauce. Served with rice and choice of side.

And last but not least, the Crabfest® Ultimate Surf & Turf with shrimp-topped crab cakes and wood-grilled sirloin steak with a crab-hollandaise topping; served with mashed potatoes and choice of side. This is what I ordered! I love a good Surf and Turf so this dish was right up my alley. I expected the seafood to be on point but I was pleasantly surprised that my steak was grilled to perfection as well! And the crab-hollandaise topping was delicious.

3) Guest-Favorite Dishes. In addition to the new crab dishes, Crabfest features a variety of guest-favorite dishes from Red Lobster’s menu, including the popular Crab Linguini Alfredo, Wild-Caught Snow Crab Legs and the Ultimate Feast®. Now the Ultimate Feast® is what made my husband’s eyes light up! With steamed North American snow crab legs, tender Maine lobster tail, hand-crafted garlic shrimp scampi and Walt’s Favorite Shrimp, you can easily understand how this dish got its name. And he ate every single bite!

And let’s not forget the Cheddar Biscuits. I’ll leave this right here…

4) Festive Drinks. A Crabfest meal is even better when complemented by a refreshing beverage like their new Crabfest® Cooler – a tropical blend of Malibu®, Midori, Sour Mix and pineapple with a Blue Curacao Float, served in collective Coastal Crab glassware. I’m all for trying new cocktails so this was top on my list. And now I have the cutest crab glass at home!

My husband likes to pair his dinner with a quality brew, so both of us were happy. Cheers!

5) The Sea-to-Table Story. The story of Crabfest starts at the source – on the boats out at sea searching for and catching the delicious crab that ends up on the plates at Red Lobster. I love that Red Lobster has partnered with Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch to get a feel for the whole story. We love watching that show and making the connection between what Wild Bill of the Summer Bay and his crew catch to what ends up on your table at Red Lobster is just so neat and you begin to realize just how fresh this crab is! You can also check out some of the most popular types of crab to eat, explore the different crab flavor profiles, learn how to cook crab and get tips on how to crack crab like a pro!

To learn more about the sea-to-table journey of Red Lobster’s Alaska crab, read more here.

So if you’re a crab or seafood fan – our verdict? You MUST get down to Red Lobster for Crabfest this year! We had such a great evening out, the perfect date night. The service was great – Sarah at our local Goodyear location was pleasant and attentive. The food was amazing – you could tell it was fresh and cooked to perfection! We left with smiles on our faces and full bellies! So make your plans now as Crabfest is only around for a limited time. And do tell us if you visit, we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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