{"id":293,"date":"2023-12-06T01:54:12","date_gmt":"2023-12-06T01:54:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/squarespace.joannawhiteart.com\/wp\/2023\/12\/06\/the-fresh-market-crab-salmon-cakes-review\/"},"modified":"2025-03-28T15:04:03","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T19:04:03","slug":"the-fresh-market-crab-salmon-cakes-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snarklesauce.com\/blog\/2023\/12\/06\/the-fresh-market-crab-salmon-cakes-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Crab & Salmon Cakes from The Fresh Market Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"World<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Author\u2019s note: I have no affiliation with <\/em>The Fresh Market<\/em><\/a>, and I was not paid to write this review. I purchased these fishy cakes with my own fishy money.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choosing is like picking a favorite child.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I popped into The Fresh Market<\/a>, and ended up buying two different<\/em> seafood cakes for dinner. Although their meat department has a whole array of fishy cakes available, I was torn between the \u201cWorld Famous Salmon Cake\u201d and the \u201cMaryland Crab Cake.\u201d So, I purchased both. My little hobbit stomach should<\/em> have only had one<\/em> \u2014 but choosing between them was like picking a favorite child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just kidding. I wouldn\u2019t eat my children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m going to review these together, as a side-by-side comparison. Both seafood cakes are chilled, but fresh. Although they appear pre-cooked, they need to be baked again at home before eating. They\u2019re each 3 ounces, but sold per item, not weight. Don\u2019t judge my grubby fingernails \u2014 I\u2019m an artist, and this is how we roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Maryland Crab Cake<\/strong> from The Fresh Market<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Alright, so I\u2019ll tell you about the Maryland Crab Cake first. Or you can just feast your eyes upon it instead. Look at it. Here it is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Yes, it\u2019s incredibly<\/em> moist inside, and ever-so-slightly crisp on the outside. Chock full of brightly colored red and green pepper pieces. According to the ingredient list, this crab cake<\/a> also features Meyer lemon juice and green onions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It mainly consists of soft, thin crab pieces. The crab meat is shredded, so there are no lumps, per se. In my humble estimation, it was a bit too<\/em> soft. There are some tender (but not soggy) bread bits, but fortunately not so much that it overwhelms the crab. The filling has a lightly sweet<\/em> taste with a wonderful spicy<\/em> aftertaste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s virtually no \u201ccrust.\u201d Again, this is a rather soft patty. The softness\/lack of crust might improve with a longer cook time or higher temperature. More about that later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The filling is fairly oily from the mayonnaise, but not offensively so. Personally, I thought the flavor improved after it had sat on my plate a bit and cooled substantially \u2014 the spices and other ingredients seemed to \u201cmarry\u201d as it approached room temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Crispy<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“World Famous” Salmon Cake<\/strong> from The Fresh Market<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Next, the \u201cWorld Famous\u201d Salmon Cake. And let me add that I\u2019m generally<\/em> suspicious of anything that brands itself as \u201cWorld Famous.\u201d But, I\u2019ll make a healthy exception here. This IS, in fact, a pretty yummy seafood cake<\/a>. If it isn\u2019t already \u201cworld famous,\u201d perhaps it should<\/em> be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This little guy is crisper and firmer than the crab cake, with a surprising cheesy taste. The ingredients include Monterey Jack Cheese, which contributes a rich, tangy taste. Unlike the crab cake, this patty is not<\/em> sweet, but very savory. There\u2019s a slight spice taste that is different from the crab cake; the ingredients list Anaheim chili pepper and lime juice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The patty forms a slightly crispy crust on top (and a bit on the bottom). Surprisingly, it doesn\u2019t ooze or change shape \u2014 it remains in a high dome during and after baking. Mine didn\u2019t shrink, either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I found a few green pepper pieces, but as a whole, the salmon cake is not as colorful as the crab cake. The meat is nearly white. I found the lack of color in the salmon flesh a bit off-putting, but my taste buds relished it anyway. The consistency is less oily than the crab cake, but not dry. If you like chewing things (I do), you may prefer this texture. There are fish flakes and lumps that are chewable, as compared to the crab cake which was all shredded and slippery. Overall, this salmon cake is meaty, with little \u201cfillers\u201d added. Definitely a stronger fishy\/protein taste than the crab cake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Because the salmon cake has little color, I would pair it with a colorful side item. My choice of the nearly-white Vermont Macaroni and Cheese was a poor selection \u2014 not enough color\/contrast! This salmon cake was yummy and elegant enough that I\u2019d consider it for entertaining purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The flavors of the two seafood cakes are very<\/em> different, so it did not feel redundant to eat both at a single meal. In fact, it was quite enjoyable to eat them together and compare the different flavor and texture profiles. If The Fresh Market sold a mini sample pack of their seafood cakes, I\u2019d be all over it. Make it so.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Maryland<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned above, I ate my fishy cakes with a serving of Vermont Mac and Cheese from The Fresh Market Deli. I might get around to reviewing that later. Maybe<\/em>. Here is the happy trio on my dinner plate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Maryland<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ingredients<\/strong> in The Fresh Market Seafood Cakes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I ate these before I looked at the ingredients, which was probably wise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the ingredients in the Maryland Crab Cake:<\/p>\n\n\n\n