The other day there was a festival in the Bloomfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh (a.k.a. Little Italy). I happen to work in Little Italy, so my walk to and from work was through the crowded festival-filled street. I walked past the various food venders offering all sorts of food: BBQ, Asian fusion, and of course Italian. I was even surprised to see a large RV parked on the side of the street just past the street closures emblazoned with the words “Maryland Crab Cakes.”

Being a Marylander, I of course took a closer look. If they were really Maryland crab cakes they’d have to made by my fellow Marylanders. The RV did indeed have Maryland plates and listed its home base as Havre de Grace, Maryland. I happened to mention that investigation to Amanda as I talked to her on the phone on my walk to my car. She immediately asked me to bring home a crab cake since they seemed to have credibility being from a town along the Chesapeake Bay.

I then realized that my job was to return to the fray of the festival and not go home until a crab cake was in hand. I passed stand after stand until I spotted the gold, black, red and white of the Maryland flag waving in the breeze. Of course there was a line, but it eventually led me to the counter. The cake in hand, wrapped in foil and nestled in a small paper basket I returned to my Jeep and seatbelted it in for the ride home. Precious cargo!

Marylanders take great pride in the state crustacean, particularly when it’s been doused in Old Bay and baked. Amanda enjoyed every bite that evening.

If you’d like to make your own cake here is my mother’s recipe:

Take 1 pound of lump crab meat.

Mix with some bread crumbs, mayo and a beaten egg and form into patties.

Fry in a pan until it is golden brown and serve on a plate or in a bun.