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Friday, May 09, 2014

They Put Old Bay On Everything In Maryland. Soon You Will, Too

It's been said that Marylanders will put Old Bay Seasoning on just about everything: crabs, of course, but also pasta, pumpkin seeds, Cheetos, even chocolate. This year, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the seasoning mix, Maryland-based Flying Dog Brewery is releasing a special-edition beer brewed with Old Bay. Skeptics abound, butearly reviews are overwhelmingly positive.

In short, it feels like Old Bay is everywhere these days, and not just in Maryland. Old Bay's Facebook page has nearly half a million 'likes.' On its Web site, the company claims 50 million ounces of the seasoning were sold last year — that works out to about 8.3 million of the little yellow tins that are ubiquitous on dinner tables in the Chesapeake Bay region. The company also maintains an "Old Bay Nation" fan site that collects testimonials from Old Bay enthusiasts worldwide.

Search data from Google confirms that interest in Old Bay — nationwide, not just in Maryland — is indeed on the upswing.
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13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love being from Maryland. As a young man I've always heard the debate about the 'Real Crabbers of Maryland', do who does that title belong to? Eastern Maryland or Western Maryland?

Anonymous said...

I didn't realize they had crabs on the Western Shore, of course, the only REAL crabbers are on the Eastern Shore. I always believed in that old bumper sticker, "There is no life west of the Chesapeake Bay."

Anonymous said...

10:28
And no brains East of it.

Anonymous said...

A little Old Bay on fried chicken while it's frying is just FANTASTIC!

Anonymous said...

10:44, please review the previous acts of Congress before opening your mouth and proving 10:28's truth.

Anonymous said...

It takes an act of Congress to make a bumper sticker now? Wow something I didn't know.

Anonymous said...

10:56-Please review the cancer rates on the Eastern Shore before attempting to prove anything.

Anonymous said...

I think the real crabbers and the best crabs are on the Eastern Shore, but the best steamed crabs and crabcakes originated on the Western Shore.
I believe it may have been Gunnings and Obryckis in Baltimore that perfected the art of steaming crabs and crabcakes using Old Bay.

Anonymous said...

ya'll just validated 10:44's comments. bravo.

Anonymous said...

Old Bay makes most things better. I put it on tuna and chicken salad, steamed veggies and just about anything that needs some zing. Could be why my blood pressure is sky high...

Anonymous said...

11:01 there are salt free recipes for Old Bay online. Not the same, but still quite good.

Anonymous said...


Heck, I put Old Bay on my Old Bay!

Anonymous said...

Love old bay. I don't care if you're east or west shore.