Eating Crab Balls with Russell Crowe
Last March, the Maine Avenue Fish Market in D.C. was a delicious location for "State of Play."
If there’s anything I love as much as food, it’s going to the movies. As a kid, I spent summers working in my mother and stepdad’s theater, a 200-seater on Orcas Island in Washington state, where I’d tear tickets, sneak candy and watch tons of movies multiple times. Like billions of star-struck kids, I dreamed of being discovered. (I’m still ready and waiting for my close-up, Mr. Coppola.)
But at least one family member made it to Hollywood. Because my sister now works in the film industry, I’ve been fortunate enough to fulfill my childhood fantasy of hanging out on a movie set. Even spent a week aboard Titanic while it was "docked" in Rosarito, Mexico.
When visiting these alternate universes, I’m always drawn to craft services, those generously stocked snack stations that keep the cast and crew from going hungry while they work. Last March, I visited Sissy in D.C. on the set of State of Play, a political thriller opening in theaters today. Yes, I had eye contact with Russell Crowe and, yes, he’s even more handsome in person than on the big screen.
But what really got me hot was the set itself, the historic Maine Avenue Fish Market, which actually sits on the Washington Channel near the underpass of I-395, the wharf rising and sinking with the tides. The studio had purchased all the vendor’s goods the day they were filming on location, so everything was up for grabs, gratis. I indulged in oysters on the half shell, clam chowder, fish’n’chips, and, my favorite, crab balls.
Those golden nuggets turned out to be a cross between a crab cake and a hush puppy. I could toss back those balls all day long. Or, maybe I just liked saying “I’ll have some more crab balls.”
Remarkably, the Market stayed open for business during filming and customers seemed fairly indifferent by the movie star in their midst as they shopped for live Maryland blue crab, wild-caught Gulf shrimp or all sorts of other seafood to take home.
Not me. I was mighty impressed.
Actually, I think the reason Mr. Crowe looked in my direction was because he couldn’t help noticing my constant hand-to-mouth motion. “Would you like to share my order of crab balls?” I wanted to ask. But, protocol calls for guests to be cool. You do not talk to the talent. So, I kept my mouth shut and chewed.
About the author: Leslie Kelly is a Seattle-based freelance food writer whose work has appeared in the (now defunct) Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the Commercial Appeal in Memphis, and the Spokesman-Review. She's currently working in the kitchens of Tom Douglas restaurants and blogging at Whining & Dining.
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4 Comments:
I love the picture of you mid-crab ball. I've got so many blissful eating pictures of myself. My husband calls it my "steak with butter sauce" smile because whenever he says that, it spreads across my face.
mangabanga at 6:37PM on 04/17/09
The Maine Avenue Fish Market is one of the neat things about Washington that many tourists don't even know about and that's sort of OK with us locals, especially on a Friday afternoon or Saturday when we are in a big hurry. Truth be told the Fish Market is not what it was due in part to harvesting problems in the nearby Chesapeake Bay but it is still one of the real wonders of the area along with Easter Market and the ever-growing number of top notch restaurants that have thrived here. I go there for one or two items for a Saturday grill and come away with a full stomach and a whole weekend's worth of goodies.
steveTV at 9:28PM on 04/17/09
Leslie, thanks for the glimpse (both photographic and narrative) of another fish market. From steveTV's comment, I take it that the Maine Avenue Market doesn't draw the out-of-town crowds as our Pike Place Market does. Other than that, might you say a bit more on the similarities and differences...maybe even eventually give us a recurring series of fish market stories from various locales?
Come on, there's no reason to "keep clam!"
Chou Peng Qart at 2:27PM on 04/18/09
Leslie, it is SO nice to see you here. I am a Memphian who read your column & blog religiously in the Commercial Appeal. Glad to see you still enjoying your food!
ChristineFox at 2:04AM on 04/19/09