CRAB CAKES AND FOOTBALL, THAT’S WHAT MARYLAND DOES

Well unfortunately yesterday’s Food Friday post didn’t publish for some reason, so here it is under the guise of Food Saturday!  I’m going to be up front and say that there won’t be a TON of food in this post but I’m sure you’ll be ok.  Let’s continue with my Maryland road trip! After I left Annapolis, I headed towards the legendary Chesapeake Bay bridge en route to Kent Island. 

I don’t advocate taking pictures while driving.

Funny story about this bridge…my Mom hates it.  I like to assume that one of the reasons why we didn’t spend a lot of time on the Maryland Eastern shore when I was growing up is because she has a hard time in the car when we cross it.  Of course, I couldn’t help but think about this as I was crossing it on my own…but I survived!  For travelers heading to the shore, this bridge isn’t as bad as I’m making it out to be.  First of all it’s gorgeous.  The steel beams are so distracting as you are crossing the Bay, you hardly even notice that you are over the water.  Second, the bridge is not that high at all for those who are scared of heights but it is long.  The only time I got slightly nervous was when traffic stopped for a little bit and I felt like I had already been driving for 20 minutes yet was still on the bridge.

Kent Manor Inn

After finally reaching the other end, I only drove for about five miles before reaching Kent Island.  One of the only lodging options on Kent Island that is not a chain hotel is the Historic Kent Manor Inn.  The inn was originally built as a 6-bedroom family home in 1820, and after a series of restorations and renovations is now home to 24 guest rooms, several conference rooms and a Garden House event space.  On my property tour, I was able to climb all the way up to the cupola which was lined with signatures from guests throughout the years.  It was unbelievable!  There were signatures from 1925, 1920, even as early as 1907!  I could literally feel the spirit of past guests who climbed the exact same stairs to get a peek of the property and the land from above.

W.S. Legg, April 21, 1907, 2:18 pm

After the tour, it was time for the most important part of the trip: the quest for the perfect crab cake.  After accosting a few people like the major tourist I was, I found myself at Harris Crab House.  It was exactly what I was looking for. No frills, newspaper-covered tables and people beating the hell out of their steamed blue crabs with wooden mallets.  I overheard a father telling his son “you don’t have to beat him, he’s already dead,” ha!  I took a seat at the bar and was momentarily distracted by the idea of soft shell crabs until the bartender swiftly led me back to the “famous” crab cake sandwich.  Lump crab meat, little to no breading, I was sold…and not disappointed!  The restaurant overlooked the Bay and was the perfect summer dinner crab house location.

Harris crab house

I crashed from a food coma shortly after and did not leave my room until the next morning.  Lucky for me, I got to experience the famed champagne Sunday brunch at Kent Manor Inn.  There was an impressive display of hot breakfast and lunch items, as well as cold foods and a raw bar.  To top it all off, dessert was a spread of French pastries including hazelnut crème puffs, macaroons and more.  Heaven!