I stopped by the fruit and food shop round the corner from my house that rainy morning on my way home after I had dropped my girl off at school.
I saw that they had two baskets of crabs…
…the bigger ones selling for RM80.00 a kilo and the smaller ones RM65.00 – I saw that the claws of the smaller ones were not as big as these…
…maybe around half the size.
My initial thought was no, I did not want to buy it as they were not cheap. This was the second time I saw crabs there and the first time there were some, I did not buy any. However, it got me thinking – the last time we had crabs was in August, 2018 and another time was in March this year soon after the MCO partial lockdown started and the seller was selling his crabs at discounted prices so as to get rid of them and my friend, Eric, bought me some.
I never bought any from the wet market ever as they were very small, the size of my palm so I do not know the going price for these crustaceans and these were HUGE, the claws alone were already almost the size of my hand…
…and since at this point in time, I have no commitments, I don’t owe anybody any money and I can jolly well afford to pamper myself and my family once in a while, I made my decision there and then to cast caution to the wind and spend my hard-saved money to buy three.
It did not come up to 2 kilos – the total was over RM130.00 so that would work out to RM40.00 each. If we go and eat at that place here famous for its crabs, one plate of one crab would be around RM100.00 already, or two if they are smaller so I did not feel the pinch so much even though some of my Facebook friends insisted that they were too expensive and they would be able to get some a lot cheaper elsewhere. Ah well!!! I already bought them so I could not jolly well take them back and ask for a refund.
My missus cooked them following her mum’s recipe, the same way my mum would cook crabs, prawns and chee loi (balitongs/siput sudut) too…
…and we sure enjoyed it to the max.
My girl prefers the claws…
…so we let her have all of them. That girl of mine! She enjoys eating crabs but knowing that they are expensive, she will never ask for them, be it outside or at home. She was so happy that day that she specially thanked me for buying them.
Of course I shall not be buying them again, if not for a good reason – a fool and his money are soon parted. This will have to do for the time being.
SWEE HUNG (2.316161, 111.840441) is located along Jalan Ruby, in the block of shops on the right – next to a hair salon at the extreme end…and on the other end, to the left is the Kim Won Chinese Medical Store and Mini-supermarket. Kim Tak Co. and Ak Kau Cafe are located in the other block on the left.
...STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! 
Yeah~enjoy and indulge when you can. Ha 😀
RM140 should be considered ok for you. :p The claw looks really big for sure.
Yes, not that I have to fork out that much for our meals everyday, two meals…plus only RM70 per meal – can’t get that outside…with crabs!!!
It is good that you know how to pamper yourself once in a while and within your means. Having said that, I for one will never buy crabs to cook or ordered when eating outside, not because I don’t know how to pamper myself but the hassle one have to go through eating them. All 10 fingers needed. I surrender. Actually not much to eat from crabs, I rather prefer for prawns.
Yes, I do feel like RM80 of tua thow hay, there will be a lot more to enjoy and it is nicer too…but my girl is not so into prawns and she loves crabs! Of course lah, the doting mum will do all the work for her…no need to dirty her fingers. LOL!!!
That was big and meaty!! I like the claw!
Once in a while is a good treat. I had crabs yesterday. Flower crabs, luckily they were meaty and sweet.
Flower crabs are sea crabs, right? Are they cheaper? Not really into those. Muslims can eat those, because not sold alive like mud crabs, I hear.
Once in a while our family would indulge in crabs too, even tho you cant really get a lot of meat and flesh from crabs but actually what we love is the chilli sauce that comes with it, esp when eat with mantou. Ours are usually sri lanka crabs.
Chili crabs, Singapore’s national dish but I watched a tv food series, British chef/host – he was not impressed.
As far as I am concerned, that was money well spent. After all, crab is not something that you would frequently. It is a nice treat once in a while.
Yes, the key phrase, once in a while. Buang gian, cheaper than eating it outside.
“would buy”
Gotcha!
RM80.00 a kilo! thats expensive, almost same price as here
With or without conversion? Over NZD20 a kilo there? That’s very cheap then. I guess things aren’t that expensive there if you buy and cook your own.
Those are mighty fine nippers. I wonder if they are mud crabs.
Yes, they are. Not sea crabs.