February 2004

San Francisco Crab Festival

Throughout Fisherman’s Wharf and much of San Francisco, February 6-29

The 2nd Annual San Francisco Crab Festival celebrates San Francisco’s favorite seafood. The season’s haul from our Central California fishery, an area approximately 400 square miles, exceeded two million pounds between Nov. 2002-Jun 2003. The 2004 2nd Annual Crab Festival has rolled out the red carpet to receive this year’s catch. What started in the Wharf area in just one year has spread all over the city with all kinds of fun and enjoyable ways to celebrate crab for the whole month of February.

Dungeness crab is known for its sweet and delicious meat that has become favored over Alaskan Snow, Atlantic Blue, and Stone crab. Often, it is served freshly cracked, teased from its shell then dipped in drawn butter. With a loaf of sourdough French bread and a bottle of chilled Chardonnay… This fabulous crustacean was hailed as “the quintessential San Francisco meal” by the late columnist, Herb Caen. Many restaurants, starting with McCormick and Kuleto’s, Scoma’s and most of Fisherman’s Wharf, plus many Vietnamese, China town, Mexican, and New Orleans-style restaurants, will have great ways to fix crab that will make your mouth water. The Wharf Association and San Francisco Visitor’s and Convention Bureau have planned a variety of activities and events expanding beyond the Wharf to include Ghirardelli Square, the Cannery, Mission District, North Beach, China Town, Fort Mason, and Union Square. Visit www.sfvisitor.org/crab for more details.

Gala Banquet and Fundraiser McCormick and Kuleto’s Restaurant, Ghirardelli Square,
February 6 kicks off the Festival.