Crabcake Corndogs: A Revelation

Within the past month, I've been lucky to reconnect with a chef whom I've long time admired.  Once manning the kitchen at his restaurant Wyanoka, then Mojo and then a slew of other oft overlooked gems (Lure, Suba) Chris Santos regained his footing in 2005 when he opened Stanton Social.  The big, boisterous Lower East Side four corners has consistently put out inspiring, lighthearted and eclectic cuisine since it's inception - I was glad I could still make this claim after dining their after a little 2-year sabbatical last week.

Some items on the menu have stayed - French onion soup dumplings, red snapper fish tacos - but some new ones have arrived.  My favorite, and what I really think is genius, were the crabcake corndogs.  Wowza! The mashup is both brilliant and obvious, which I guess is what makes it so brilliant.  Of course the flavors will pair! Of course the form will fit! $12 buys three minis, skewered onto wooden sticks and deep fried in a cornmeal-buttermilk batter.  The interior is a flavorful mixture of crabmeat, Tabasco, chives and panko.  A corn-spiked dip accompanies just to add a little more kick.

(picture from StarChefs)

This is one of the most exciting dishes I've had this year. Seriously! It was just so much fun.  Get yourself over to Stanton Social asap for a taste.