According to area CVBs, there are plenty of options for interested planners who’d like to send delegates home with an ocean-inspired gift reminding them of their time at the meeting. Following are several edible and otherwise culinary ideas.
Two area cookbooks, Dishing Up Maryland (www.workman.com/products/9781603425278), which features 150 recipes including crab cake and Smith Island Cake recipes, and Chesapeake Bay Cooking with John Shields (www.johnshields.com), including rockfish, gumbo and various crab recipes, would make terrific gifts.
Timonium-based chocolate maker Albert Kirchmayr (www.fineeuropeanchocolate.com) is available to create sailboats out of chocolate for groups.
Brewed locally and highlighting the maritime history of the area, gifts from Halethorpe-based Heavy Seas Beer (www.hsbeer.com) include Loose Cannon, Small Craft, Gold and Peg Leg brews, as well as various T-shirts, pint glasses and coasters.
Old Bay Seasoning (www.oldbay.com) is a staple in Baltimore eateries. It goes great with everything from crabs, shrimp and fish to French fries, salads and Bloody Mary cocktails.
Well-known in Baltimore and beyond for great steamed crabs and fresh crab cakes, Obrycki’s (www.obryckis.com) has two gifts, a crab seasoning shaker and Obrycki’s Seafood Seasoning, that will be a hit with delegates.
In Wicomico County, groups might venture out to The Red Roost (www.theredroost.com), which is touted as the original all-you-can-eat crab house. Crab hammers make for a fun take-home souvenir.
Fisher’s Popcorn (www.fisherspopcorn.com) will remind meeting attendees of time on the Ocean City boardwalk, where the popcorn purveyor has resided for 70 years. A decorative tin filled with popcorn is a great idea from this family business.
Also located on the Ocean City boardwalk is Shriver’s (www.shrivers.com), which has been around since 1898 and produces some of the most popular salt water taffy on the Eastern seaboard.