What would crabs or a crab cake be without Old Bay? Ty Webb (or was it the Zen philosopher Basha?) once said “A flute with no holes is not a flute, and a donut with no holes, is a Danish.” The same philosophy applies to crabs. A crab without Old Bay, is not a crab, and a crab cake without Old Bay, is sacrilegious. But in order to truly know Old Bay, you must know the history of Maryland’s most famous spice. Fortunately, it can be found in this blog.
It all started with a man by the name of Gustav Brunn, who arrived in Maryland from Germany in 1938. He began working at McCormick & Co., but started his own spice company called Baltimore Spice Co. after being fired from McCormick. The building was across from the seafood market, so merchants would buy spices from him and he would observe the various spice recipes they were making.
Eager to make his own recipe, Brunn created Delicious Brand Shrimp and Crab Seasoning, which he renamed Old Bay after World War 2, after the name of the steamship packet company that operated between Baltimore and Norfolk, Va. It was popular locally but it wasn’t the nationwide name that it is now. Old Bay sales made up only 2 to 3 percent of sales when Brunn sold the company in 1985. After changing hands a few more times, Old Bay ended up at McCormick, which turned Old Bay into a spice known across the U.S.
So what are you waiting for? Now that you are one with Old Bay and its history, order some crab cakes today online or make a reservation at our restaurant in Baltimore and see for yourself why our crab cakes are a delectable treat that people all over Maryland and all over the entire country can’t get enough of. And since we recently discounted our shipping rates, there is no better time than now to get your hands on some Maryland crab cakes. We also do catering!
We’re a family owned business since 1971. Our world famous crabs are flown in daily, hand sorted and graded to ensure only the freshest and fullest available. Try our award winning crab cakes and made to order entrees. Zagat rated since 1999. Best Crabs, Best Pit Beef and we’ve been previously rated by the Baltimore Business Journal and Baltimore Magazine.
Get your fill from Costas even when you’re not in our dining room: follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Sources
