Soft shell crabs. One of the ultimate delicacies and true mysteries of the culinary world. Gourmands love them. They pine for the season. But what does ‘the season’ mean and how does the common hard blue crab become the mouth-watering, artfully prepared ‘soft shell crab’ on their plates? ‘Peelers, Busters and Soft Shell Crabs’ unravels the mystery at Debbie’s Crab Ranch on North Creek in eastern North Carolina. Debbie Wilkins and her husband Curtis have a shedding operation that provides top-grade soft shell crabs to restaurants and retail markets. They walk us through the intriguing process, and we get a front-row seat for the amazing drama. And one of the South’s premier chefs shows us how to prepare them. All a first in the culinary world.