Chapter 570 - 293: Juneau, the Capital, and Ketchikan Town
Juneau International Airport.
When Lin Yu’an’s brightly colored Turbo Beaver landed smoothly among the Gulfstreams and Bombardiers, it immediately caught the eye of everyone on the tarmac.
Under the envious gaze of the FBO ground staff, Lin Yu’an skillfully taxied the plane into its reserved spot.
A pre-booked black Cadillac Escalade SUV was already quietly waiting by the tarmac.
They got into the car with their sleeping child and quickly arrived at Juneau’s most famous seafood restaurant—Tracy’s King Crab Shack.
The restaurant is located right by the harbor, exuding a rugged fisherman’s vibe. They chose a table next to a window where they could see the harbor and the snowy mountains.
Lin Yu’an ordered a live king crab weighing ten pounds, freshly caught from the cold sea waters.
A local girl with a bright smile, wearing a waterproof apron, confirmed the order. Before long, a steaming metal bucket was boldly placed in the middle of their table with a clatter.
No exquisite porcelain plates, no fancy presentation, just the most original way of serving.
The bucket was filled with freshly cooked bright red giant king crab legs, accompanied by several small white ceramic bowls filled with melted, warmly fragrant butter and a few wedges of lemon.
Nothing else was needed.
This is Tracy’s King Crab Shack’s most famous saltwater boil.
"Enjoy your meal!" said the waitress with a smile, handing each of them a pair of scissors specifically for cutting the crab shells.
For the first time, Aliya luxuriously picked up an entire giant crab leg and used the scissors to snap open the hard shell, revealing a section of snow-white, ivory-like crab meat inside.
With a gentle pull, a perfect piece of crab meat slid out of the shell, still steaming slightly.
She dipped the piece of crab meat lightly into the warm melted butter, eagerly sending it into her mouth.
The next second, her eyes widened in astonishment.
An indescribable burst of extreme sweetness exploded on her taste buds!
The crab meat was firm and bouncy, the rich buttery aroma perfectly complemented the crab’s natural sweetness without overwhelming it.
"Oh my..." she mumbled as she praised, "This... this is a completely different species from the king crab I had in Dallas!"
Lin Yu’an smiled and began handling the crab meat for the two little ones who were drooling with desire.
He picked a small strand of crab meat from the plumpest part of the crab leg, ensuring there were no tiny hard shells, and carefully placed it on each baby’s lips.
The little ones’ tongues immediately curled around that slightly salty and sweet magical thread like they had discovered a new continent, pulling it into their mouths.
Their eyes lit up, and they began to exclaim with delight, waving their little hands, wanting more.
For the first time, the little ones also tasted the fresh sweetness of the ocean.
The son ate with a little head-shaking dance, while the daughter squinted her eyes in happiness, a sight that melted Aliya and Emily’s hearts.
————
Emily watched this scene with a blissful smile on her face, while enjoying the unparalleled delicacy. She curiously asked, "Darling, how much would such fresh king crab sell for in China?"
The question made Lin Yu’an ponder for a moment.
Recalling thoughtfully, he said, "Firstly, a live giant Alaskan king crab over ten pounds like this is extremely rare in China’s market."
"Most of what can be found in restaurants are either cooked and frozen or raw frozen. A premium five to six pound king crab in a high-end Shanghai restaurant could easily cost over five thousand, even ten thousand RMB."
He glanced at the massive crab shell on the table, "While what we have here is ten pounds, freshly caught live crab."
"If it could teleport instantly to a restaurant on the Shanghai Bund, its price might become a ludicrous number to most, perhaps twenty thousand, even thirty thousand RMB."
"Thirty thousand RMB...over four thousand US Dollars...for a crab?" Aliya was stunned into silence by the figure.
"Yes." Lin Yu’an nodded, "That’s the privilege of being at the source, and the value of the supply chain. Right now, we can enjoy the freshest king crab in the world here for just over a thousand dollars."
"But once this crab goes through layers of transport, customs, and middleman markups to reach Shanghai thousands of miles away, its price would rise four to five times, becoming a symbol that only a few can afford."
These words gave Aliya and Emily a deeper understanding of the value of the lunch before them.
They looked at the white crab meat on the table and seemed to find it even more precious and delicious.
After lunch, when Lin Yu’an went to settle the bill, he glanced at the total amount on the statement.
Tracy’s King Crab Shack
Server: Chloe
Table: Patio No. 12
Guests: 5 (including 2 infants)
Items:
Whole King Crab (Market Price): $750
(Weight: 10.2 lbs * $73.5)
Crab Bisque (bowl) x3: $54
Famous Crab Cakes x2: $56
Garlic Bread (basket) x1: $12
Side Fries x1: $8
Beverages:
Alaskan Amber Ale Beer x2: $18
Chardonnay White Wine (House Selection) x2: $24