Where: Baltimore, MD
When: April 23, 2011
With: Dave
I am a huge seafood person. And while I grew up eating it and loving it, it took until I met Dave to sample what quickly became one of my top favorite foods: Maryland blue crab. Seasoned with the best spice mix ever, Old Bay, and usually served in all-you-can-eat style, I feel like my life wasn't quite complete until I first sampled this delicacy.
While I am rendered mute while consuming crab as I am laser focused on getting every shred of meat out from the the tiniest of claws, Dave finds this amusing. As such, he loves taking me to restaurants that serve crab. So what better way to enjoy crab than a day trip to the source, Baltimore, to go to the restaurant Obrycki's, famous for serving up Maryland blue crab.
[Note: When we visited Baltimore, the old edition of The Book was still out there and this entry was labelled "Obrycki's and Faidley's". Obrycki's has since moved to the airport and the other restaurant, Faidley's, is more famous for its crab cakes, which are not really my thing.]
Baltimore is a pretty easy trip from New York, only a couple hours by train. We got up early, hopped the train, and by mid-morning, we were enjoying the views of the tall ships while we strolled the Baltimore harbor.
When: April 23, 2011
With: Dave
I am a huge seafood person. And while I grew up eating it and loving it, it took until I met Dave to sample what quickly became one of my top favorite foods: Maryland blue crab. Seasoned with the best spice mix ever, Old Bay, and usually served in all-you-can-eat style, I feel like my life wasn't quite complete until I first sampled this delicacy.
While I am rendered mute while consuming crab as I am laser focused on getting every shred of meat out from the the tiniest of claws, Dave finds this amusing. As such, he loves taking me to restaurants that serve crab. So what better way to enjoy crab than a day trip to the source, Baltimore, to go to the restaurant Obrycki's, famous for serving up Maryland blue crab.
[Note: When we visited Baltimore, the old edition of The Book was still out there and this entry was labelled "Obrycki's and Faidley's". Obrycki's has since moved to the airport and the other restaurant, Faidley's, is more famous for its crab cakes, which are not really my thing.]
Baltimore is a pretty easy trip from New York, only a couple hours by train. We got up early, hopped the train, and by mid-morning, we were enjoying the views of the tall ships while we strolled the Baltimore harbor.
I love the Baltimore harbor. It's kind of like amusement park meets history. It's got the aquarium, the boats, the ball park, and lots of fun and colorful artwork - very visually pleasing.
It even has a pirate ship tour around the bay that includes a water gun battle. I mean, what's better than that?
It was also very easy to get excited for dinner thanks to the decor around the area.
There are lots of fun sculptures around the harbor as well.
The harbor's artwork got us in the mood for an afternoon stop in the American Visionary Art Museum, filled with weird and interesting sculptures. This place was so fun.
Ironically, the exhibition at the time we visited was "What Makes Us Smile?". Well, for me it's crab, but for Dave, it's his new friend.
A mosaic school bus.
Easy to smile when encountering an angelic squirrel.
Finally, it was dinner time! We started to walk to the restaurant, about half a mile outside of the harbor, but we got lost on the way (these were the days before either of us had smart phones). Getting close to our reservation, we ended up hailing a taxi just as the neighborhood started to look a little dicey. The cab driver confirmed that we were on the edge of a not very good area and that it was a good thing he got us when he did. Jeez, the city really changes one block from the harbor! (This was before I ever saw The Wire, so I had no idea!)
Finally, we made it!
The atmosphere inside was super casual and old school, just the way crab should be served. Add a mallet and some cold beer and I'm almost in my personal heaven.
Starting off with some oysters and mussels. Best appetizers possible.
And now, bibs at the ready for the main event.
Managed to snap one shot of these red beauties slathered in Old Bay before I descended into nirvana and began inhaling.
While my favorite crab house remains Higgins Crab House in Ocean City, MD, these were pretty darn good. I mean, this was basically all that was left...
After a delicious dinner, it was time for one final activity, a baseball game at Camden Yards!
Their version of monument park, including a retired number 8 for Cal Ripken, Jr.
I prefer my Yankees, though.
Inside the stadium.
We timed this trip perfectly, as we were able to see the Orioles play the Yankees. And the best part about seeing your own team as the away team is that you get to see their warm-up.
First pitch thrown by the Oriole Bird.
A little bit of A-rod.
My boys.
Sabathia pitching.
It was an exciting game to attend as the Yankees won 15-3. It was hard to leave before the end, but alas, we had to get out early to catch our train back to New York.
We had such a great day trip in Baltimore. I mean, any time I get to eat crabs is a good time, but when I get to eat them in the heart of their home, that is the best! And this further confirms there is no greater food on earth.
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