Which fish monger has the best crab cakes?

[frygirl]

I'm hosting a dinner party and want to purchase crab cakes to cook fresh at home. I'm looking for entree-size crab cakes.

I've heard the fish monger in Ballard on 80th at 24th has good ones, but I thought I'd consult the experts.

Have you had any killer crabcakes that you purchased from a fish monger to cook fresh at home?

[frygirl]

Follow-up Report:

I went to Met Market and their crab cakes didn't have bread crumbs on them. So I passed on those and went to Whole Foods. Their crab cakes were generously sized with a bread crumb crust and were $5.99 each I believe. I spent about $40 for 6 crab cakes. They were super crabby with no discernable filler. Loved them!

Boy were these good. Per their advice, I seared them in a skillet on each side then placed them in a 375 degree oven for 6 minutes. They were perfect and were met with rave reviews from my dinner guests.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

[mrnelso]

Ballard Market presents Dungeness Crab Cakes. If you get a chance to taste-test and report, please do.

[firecracker]

Tim's Seafood in Kirkland Parkplace has terrific crab cakes. Their dry packed scallops (and all fish) are simply wonderful. Fresh, scentless and well priced ... nice.

[seattleviking]

I sampled the Elliott's crab cakes at Costco and they were pretty darn good and not too pricey. The demo crew from Elliott's said they are the same ones served in the restaurant... which I have not tried so I can't vouch.

[christy319]

I wonder about the ones at The Fresh Fish Co, too. They're huge! And pricey (IMO) so I haven't tried them. I like everything else there (shrimp cakes are good) so I think they'd be a good bet.

[chococat]

I've really enjoyed the crab cakes at the Met Market and Whole Foods. I don't know if University Seafood makes crabcakes, but I bet they'd be delicious. Not sure what your timeline is, but the new Met Market in Kirkland is having a monster grand opening sale, and this week (today is 6/18/10) dungeness crab meat is ~half price if you want to try making your own.

[cocktailhour]

Making your own is easy with cleaned dungeness crab from any good fish monger--Pike Place or Wild Salmon are my favorites. but I have occasionally bought the prepared cakes at Met Market. There is very little celery (which I hate) or any filler and they are entree sized with a crumb exterior that fries up nicely. I have always been happy with them.

[Leper]

Frygirl, Most pre-made crab cakes are mostly filler and celery. You can mak e your own quite easily as Costco sells 1-lb tins of solid crab meat for $14.00--an amazing bargain.
The recipe in Tom Douglas' cookbook is excellent. The secret to great crab cakes is to melt better into the mixture, form the cake and let them set up in the refrigerator so the butter hardens. Then, when cooked, perfect.