By: Sara Hisamoto-Warfield, Baltimore Convention and Visitors Bureau
New York is known for its pizza and Philadelphia for cheese steaks, but crab is king in Baltimore, Maryland. Baltimore, located on the East Coast of the United States north of Washington, D.C. offers many different options for fresh seafood straight from the Chesapeake Bay. But ask about the local specialty and the answer is sure to involve crab. That’s why it only makes sense that Baltimore offers many unique ways for visitors to enjoy these delectable crustaceans.
To Start the Day: Start your morning off right with a solid helping of crab meat eggs benedict. Whether served over a crab cake, or fresh lump crab meat, this delicious take on eggs benedict is a popular breakfast option in Baltimore! Gertrude’s in the Baltimore Museum of Art features two options for eggs and crab including broiled crab cakes, poached eggs and tomato on an English muffin with hollandaise or eggs crabette, a spicier version of the classic eggs benedict.
Get a Little Messy: Baltimore’s crab houses are world famous and it is not hard to imagine why! Steamed crabs have been a staple of the city for decades. These days the waterfront is full of crab restaurants suitable to the tastes of any and all visitors. Locals like to steam the crabs in Old Bay, a zesty seasoning made locally by McCormick Spices, and sit with friends and family to pick and eat the crabs. Don’t know how, don’t worry there will be plenty of locals willing to show you their secrets for picking crabs. Locations like Captain James Crabhouse & Restaurant, a Baltimore landmark since 1978, and Bo Brooks on the waterfront are great spots to get a little messy picking crabs.
In a Cone: Yes, you read that correctly. Forget the fork and knife. This is crab on the go. No place is more famous for these delectable bites then The Gypsy Queen Café, a roaming food-truck which features a crab cakes over fries in a waffle cone!
In the Shell: Soft shell crabs may look a bit strange, but their taste is all that matters. On a sandwich, with tomatoes, covered in sauce, these guys taste fantastic wherever you stick them. Soft shell crabs are caught during the period when crabs are molting, thus leaving them with a new, soft, and most importantly, an edible shell! These crabs can be found throughout Baltimore from late May through September.
With Cheese: Macaroni and cheese to be precise! A number of restaurants around Baltimore have taken the bold leap of combining classic macaroni and cheese with lump crab meat! The award winning Miss Shirley’s Café has taken their popular menu item one step further by adding sweet corn, diced tomato and apple wood smoked bacon to their cheesy mix and the results are simply mouthwatering.
Broiled or Fried: You can’t mention Baltimore and crabs without including crab cakes. Whether broiled or fried, crab cakes are a must try item. You can find variations all throughout town but locals will tell you that Faidley Seafood’s award winning cakes may just be the best in the city. Located in its “World Famous Lexington Market”, this family owned crab-dynasty has been perfecting the crab cake since 1886 and if the testimonies from happy customers are anything to go by, they have succeeded!
For more fun things to do in Baltimore, please visit our website at www.Baltimore.org to find more ways to experience our city!
