One of the most memorable aspects of any vacation is dining experiences. Located on the Atlantic Coast, Maryland is a seafood lover's paradise. Fresh catches make up an important part of the state's economy and culinary culture. Along with sea fare, sweets and fresh produce also contribute to the menu of local foods.
Seafood
As the main food product of Maryland, seafood is the primary ingredient of the state's cuisine. In Maryland's Chesapeake Bay region, more than 73 seafood processing plants employ 1,360 people and rely on the service of over 6,000 watermen. With seafood being such a major industry in the Old Line State, many of the area's regional recipes feature local catches.
Perhaps one of the state's most popular seafood items is the blue crab, which is used in such dishes as crab cakes and soups. Crab cakes are a traditional specialty in Maryland, particularly in the Baltimore area. Most culinary historians believe that crab cakes were introduced to the region by English settlers. The dish is made with the minced meat of the soft shell blue crab, which is sauteed or fried in a patty. Other crab-based dishes in Maryland include crab salads, boiled crab, steamed crab, and barbecue crab.
Catches like rock fish, fresh clams, Chincoteague oysters, scallops, and lobsters are hauled in by fishermen and used in local seafood dishes as well.
Old Bay Seasoning
A blend of herbs and spices, Old Bay Seasoning by McCormick & Company is a popular seasoning produced in Maryland. Old Bay Seasoning was named for the Chesapeake Bay area in which it was developed by a German immigrant named Gustav Brunn. Since its development in the 1940s, the seasoning has been a favorite cooking item in the Chesapeake Bay area and throughout the United States. During the time of the seasoning's invention, crabs were so abundant that restaurants would give them away. Old Bay, and seasonings like it, were created so that patrons would enjoy their drinks more. One of many seasonings created during that time period, Old Bay Seasoning is one of the few that have survived up until present day.
Brunn manufactured his Old Bay Seasoning from his own company in the early 1900s, packaging the seasoning in a unique yellow can. In 1990, however, McCormick & Company purchased the company, and continues to distribute the product in its original yellow tin can. Though most popularly used in seafood dishes, Old Bay Seasoning can also be used as a topping for popcorn, eggs, salads, fried chicken, French fries, corn on the cob and whatever else suits your fancy. The seasoning contains a blend of celery salt, bay leaf, mustard seed, black and red pepper, cinnamon, and sugar.
Regional Recipes
Although seafood is a dominant aspect of Maryland's culinary styles, traditional recipes made from other ingredients can be found in the state as well.
The beaten biscuit originated in southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore during the days of plantations and manors. Made with lard, flour, salt, and water, the dough for the biscuits has to be beaten prior to baking. Traditionally, the ingredients were mixed by hand to form the dough for the biscuits. The dough was then placed on a smooth wooden block or stump and beaten with an ax that was used especially for making the beaten biscuits. Nowadays, most cooks simply beat the dough for about 35 minutes with their hands. Preparing these biscuits can be somewhat of a "culinary cardiovascular workout." The purpose of beating the dough was to trap the air inside it. The dough is also kneaded and shaped by hand to make the biscuits smooth on all sides.
Though mostly associated with the cooking traditions of southern states, fried chicken is a very popular item in Maryland, which has its own take on the recipe. Maryland ranks seventh in the U.S. in the production of broiler (frying) chickens, and the state's Eastern Shore is home to Perdue Farms, the fourth largest chicken producer in the country. Needless to say, chicken is big business in Maryland. There are over 50 known recipes for Maryland fried chicken, with the earliest documented back to 1828. Though there are many variations of the regional dish, most local chefs will agree that it's the use of local birds which make Maryland fried chicken unique.
Bergers Cookies
In 1835, the Berger brothers, Henry and George, immigrated to the U.S. from Germany and settled in Baltimore. Henry's three sons, George, Henry, and Otto, each ran their own bakery. In the early part of the 19th century, Otto died and the two remaining brothers merged the three bakeries into one, forming the Bergers bakery. After the death of brother Henry Berger, George retired and left the bakery to Charles E. Russell, who led the business to become quite prosperous. Under the management of the Russell family, the Bergers company flourished throughout the Depression and two World Wars. Today, the bakery continues to make the most well-known cookies in Maryland.
With the slogan "Bergers: The anytime cookie," the fudge cookie is considered one of Baltimore's best additions to the world's confections. The sweet treat is made up of a soft cookie with a rich layer of fudge drizzled on top. The cookie is handmade and hand-frosted, meaning the amount of fudge on each cookie can vary drastically, making each individual cookie unique.
Fresh Finds
The most prominent food crops in Maryland are corn and soybeans. Though corn is mostly produced in the Piedmont region, it's grown throughout the rest of the state as well. Soybeans make up a major portion of the state's farmlands, particularly on the Eastern Shore. Fruits like apples, strawberries, cherries (sweet and sour), blueberries, grapes, apricots, and black raspberries are also grown in Maryland.
Farmer's Markets
To sample some of the state's fresh local produce, head to an area farmers market. Here are some Maryland farmers markets you may want to check out:
Anne Arundel County Farmers Market in Annapolis
Baltimore Farmers Market
Gardenville Farmers Market in Baltimore
Golden Ring Mall Farmers Market in Baltimore
Berlin "Shore Fresh" Farmers Market in Berlin
North St. Mary's Farmers Market in Charlotte Hall
These are only a few of the farmers markets open throughout the state. To find out about more of Maryland's fresh markets contact the state's department of agriculture.
Food Festivals
Food festivals are a great way to experience delicious regional foods in a festive environment while vacationing in the Old Line State. Celebrating over 40 years of fantastic seafood is the Maryland Seafood Festival in Annapolis. The three-day long event features seafood feasts and fun attractions the whole family can enjoy. Crafts tents, live music, and magicians are just a few forms of entertainment offered at the fest. The St. Mary's County Oyster Festival in St. Mary's County is another event where you can enjoy seafood, particularly oysters, and fun.
Dining can be a delicious way to experience local culture, so sate your appetite with regional goodies from the Old Line State. Indulge in some succulent seafood and the state's sweet confections on your Maryland getaway.
