Crabcake Review #1

In my continuing effort to provide the most stimulating and cutting edge blogging experience possible, I have added another new feature: Crabcake Reviews. I have long been a connoisseur of the crabcake and have compiled a list of my personal favorites. The contest for best crabcake sandwich is currently in tight contention with no one sandwich firmly holding the #1 spot. However, the contest for best crabcake (no adornments) is a different story. That #1 position had been solidly held by The Old Lincoln House in Ephrata, PA for about two years. I say had been, because the competition changed drastically last Friday night.

In celebration of two birthdays and an engagement, my parents took the fiance and I out to Lily's on Main, a self-described "American Cafe" on Main St. in Ephrata, PA. It's vintage decor combined with a scenic second story location provides Lily's with a classy feel. Diners could easily imagine George Peppard and Audrey Hepburn having a romantic interlude at a corner table. We began our meal with some calamari and "Black and Tan" hummus as we perused the menus for our main courses. The $25 price tag for crabcakes would normally make me choke, but the appetizers were so tasty that I just couldn't bring myself to dishonor them with such an uncouth action. While no domestic calamari can compare to dining on this delicacy along La Rambla in Barcelona, Lily's brand was just downright delicious, and the hummus closely followed suit.

After a brief survey of the menu I began to think that $25 wasn't all that bad. However, I still had a few concerns about the crabcakes. The menu stated that the cakes had white corn mixed in them and were served with rice pilaf and asparagus. The two sides were, to say the least, not my favorites and mixing white corn into crabcakes struck me as bizarre at best. In the end I decided to push my snobbery aside, and ordered the crabcakes in curiosity. After a wait that was just slightly longer than I would have liked our meals arrived. I was impressed with the presentation of the meal and felt that the appearance was very well done, especially in consideration of the asparagus. As the first bite of crabcake entered my mouth I was treated to an explosion of flavor that immediately placed The Old Lincoln House in a solid #2 position. Whether the white corn had anything to do with it or not, those were simply the best crabcakes I have ever tasted. After slowly savoring the first several bites I cautiously scooped up a forkful of rice. When the newly pleasant flavor of rice pilaf massaged my pallet I began to wonder if I hadn't stumbled into a strange new world where all food tasted better than it did back home. While still pondering the implications of this possibility my eyes slowly drifted toward the asparagus. As my teeth locked closed on the vile weed my suspicions were confirmed. I was in a strange new world where all the food tasted better! As I lovingly finished the rest of my meal I drifted off into a euphoric haze that could only be shaken by the arrival of dessert. I was a bit baffled as the waiter approached with a tray of what appeared to be a mountain of whipped cream, and was even more baffled as he doused it with brandy and set it on fire. This was my introduction to "Baked Alaska." I shortly found out that beneath that flaming inferno lie a chocolate and ice cream cake. Any restaurant that can set an ice cream cake on fire, and then serve it to you while retaining the delicious flavor ranks high in my book.

Alas the evening could not last forever. Leaving Lily's I became aware that I was leaving my magical world and returning to the land where asparagus is offensive and rice pilaf is bland. On our way back to the car I noticed that everything seemed a bit older and dirtier than it had before dinner, but my thoughts soon became consumed with the reality of my experience. The champion had been unseated. Lily's now had the #1 crabcake in the world.