Not sure why you would need anything else! Sounds perfect, as is!

But, if you must, how about a squash soup or bisque as a first course?

I chuckled over the phrase, "Debris Dinner."

I always enjoyed crab in a simple meal, so I would resist the temptation to make it a feats of too many dishes the way the traditional dinners can go. But in the interest of some kind of balance, if you don't go for artichokes, work some veggies into a starter or first course. I saw a butternut hummus and had just been thinking along similar lines with a pumpkin we were cooking. Or make a soup.

For dessert, you could go traditional pies (pumpkin, pecan, apple), but a tart I remember with a dark chocolate base and cranberries on top comes to mind. I like the mix of chocolate with the traditional Thanksgiving fruit.

Now you have me wanting to make a trip west. The crab we get here just isn't the same. Enjoy

Really good home-made thick mayo.

Why not make a plateau de fruit de mer for a sumptuous meal? Add oysters, prawns, langoustines..... whatever you like.

Agree. Fruit de mer !

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1388&bih=735&q=+fruit+de+mer+&oq=+fruit+de+mer+&gs_l=img.12..0l2j0i30k1l8.1635.1635.0.3896.1.1.0.0.0.0.78.78.1.1.0....0...1ac.2.64.img..0.1.76.8Ys0cDEMr98

dcarch

For both crab and artichokes, I just thin down regular Best Foods mayo with lemon juice. Pezzini Farms in Castroville sells a lovely dill lemon mayo-ey sauce.

And for those who want to complicate things, a traditional Northern California crab dinner would be crab, salad or artichokes, garlicy sourdough bread. Have been to crab feeds that added Aglio et Olio, not much more is needed.

Can't tell you how this makes me homesick right now with crab season opening. We would go down to Phil's Fish Market in Moss Landing for fresh crab, and stop at Pezzini's for artichokes. Happily, I found that Wegman's here carries Dungeness crab, even tho it won't be quite the same.

crab and artichokes, what could be better?! Prosecco?

No, a California Chardonnay, preferably from the Santa Lucia Highlands.

DS's family has a family crab-fest every Christmas Eve. Crab legs, Fettucinni Alfredo, baked potatoes, Caesar salad, crusty french bread.

Thanks all! Mouth is watering! Nancy

all this crab talk, making cioppino tomorrow, friend has boat, recreational crabbing season has started , preparing the sauce today so flavors can meld, then tomorrow just add crab, pick up sourdough, and voila .

I want some crab and sourdough. Cocktail sauce here though -- no mayo.

A citrus and avocado salad.