Post #12

 As I reflect on all of my time in Baltimore, there are many smells and food that come to mind.  When in the right areas, you can smell the scent of a bakery making fresh bread. You can also smell the scent of burgers roasting at a high temperature on a grill. There are many smells that remind me where I am, but the one that strikes me the most is Old Bay seasoning. 

    Old Bay seasoning is a blend of herbs and spices that first came together in Baltimore more than seventy-five years ago. Since then, it's become a staple in our city's dishes, particularly in crabs. The smell of Old Bay is present all throughout Baltimore. From the bustling sea food market near the harbor to the quiet neighborhoods in the suburbs, Old Bay is there. 

    Though Old Bay comes from Maryland, I've been well acquainted with it for a while now. I find the smell to be overwhelmingly pleasant. It reminds me of family barbecues I grew up going to at the New Jersey shore. Though we weren't eating crab, it's always been a staple in my family for other dishes.

    Although Old Bay is usually associated with crabs, it can be found in many other foods. Many Maryland restaurants use it to season french fries, chicken wings, and on the rare occasion I've even seen it on popcorn. The versatility of Old Bay seasoning has helped in to become a ubiquitous presence in Baltimore's food scene. 

    By far, the best place to experience the smell of Old Bay is the seafood market. These markets are filled to the brim with vendors selling much more than just crab. They also sell fish, oysters, and other seafoods. The Old Bay mixes with the fresh seafood scent to create a luxurious scent that no one could possibly resist.

The restaurants of Baltimore use Old Bay in many different creative ways. Old Bay can be found in crab cakes, crab soup, and so many other seafood dishes. This again reminds me of times I thought I had long forgotten. Personally, when I smell it, I remember when my father would order crab cakes and crab soup from a restaurant in Florida. That one particular restaurant (Which I can't even remember the name of) always used loads of Old Bay in their food. 

    Despite it's association with seafood, Old bay can be found in another famous Baltimore dish. It's rare to find of the city's famous pit beef sandwiches seasoned without Old Bay. It's also found in many of the cities pork and chicken dishes. 

    As I stated before, the smell is overwhelmingly pleasant. I know that as soon as I get a hint of the Old Bay smell in my future, I will be immediately transported back to the streets of the harbor. 

 What has always shocked me is the hold that the spice has on the entire state. Some stores have entire sections dedicated to the pride they have for their state spice. There are always Old Bay hats, Old Bay tee shirts, old bay socks, and occasionally I see Old Bay shorts. 

In conclusion, Old Bay spice is simply the best. It's been a staple in my diet since way before I came to Maryland, and it will remain in my diet long after I'm gone. It's a scent that evokes the feeling of home for myself and many of the locals.