Who doesn't love a German beer hall?  Wood paneling and stuffed animal heads on the walls (one bear in particular looks like he knows how to have a good time!).  Long list of German beers on tap.  The sounds of polkas and people in traditional German clothing dancing.

Blob's Park has been around since 1933, when it opened with the purpose to bring a little bit of the homeland to the area for everyone to enjoy.  There is a fair amount of history here, like the first Oktoberfest in the United States being celebrated here in 1947.  If you haven't been here at least once, then you'll certainly want to make a point to at some point.  

Bennet's Curse also sets up shop at Blob's Park, which has been voted one of the best haunts in the country.  As part of your admission, you gain free entrance into Blob's Park.  Imagine our surprise when, after going into the bar for a post-haunt beer, that we would see crab cakes on the menu!  (But, sadly, no maultaschen.)  Well, we couldn't pass up an opportunity to see what the Germans could do with our favorite local treat.  Follow along to see how the adventure unfolds!

What more can you say about Trader Joe's that hasn't already been said?  They're a private label upscale grocery store that puts as much emphasis into the quality of their products as they do keeping their prices extraordinarily low.  And if you happen to live in a state that allows them to sell beer and wine, they have an exceptional selection of private label and name brand wines for dirt cheap (even though the Two Buck Chuck no longer costs $2, it's still pretty damn cheap).

With all of these culinary treats available at affordable prices, it almost becomes a challenge to see if you can make it out of there with just two grocery bags and to keep costs under $40.  Although it doesn't help when they have sample stations set up so you can try products you were recently introduced, or ones that you might easily pass over.  But, then again, this is America, where we like to keep ourselves fat and happy.

Speaking of which, on a recent Trader Joe's run, there was a specific item that happened to jump into the shopping cart while walking down the frozen fish aisle.  It was as if it was meant to be.  That's right -- Maryland Style Crab Cakes.  And for only $3.29!  At that price, you figure, "How bad can it be?"  Well, dear readers, this is what we are here to find out.  So continue reading and see how it all worked out!

Earlier this summer, the CCR stopped by Phillips Harborplace in Baltimore to review their famous crab cakes.  Needless to say, we weren't that impressed.  But while grocery shopping one day, it occurred to us that because Phillips is such a large franchise in the area, that maybe, just maybe, overall consistency between retail and restauraunt products is what they're after.  

Phillips has a few retail offerings relating to crab cakes:  the Maryland Style Crab Cakes (being reviewed), the Maryland Style Crab Cake Minis, and the Coastal Crab Cake.  The picture on the box looks fairly similar to the crab cakes at their restaurants.  So how do they compare?  Read on to find out!

Grocery shopping can sometimes be an adventure, especially when you go to a store that you are unfamiliar with.  What new treats await you in the next aisle?  Are they worth the cost?  Can I find these in other stores, or even the same store in a different location?  

Imagine how elated the CCR was when stopping by a random grocery store and seeing a brand of frozen crab cakes that haven't been encountered yet.  And they came in two different varieties -- normal crab cakes (being reviewed) and jumbo lump crab cakes (future review).  They also sat alongside Phillips frozen crab cakes, so which to choose?

You may not know this at the store, but do some internet researching, and you will find out that Chesapeake Bay Brands is the same company that sells gourmet crab cakes on QVC, appeared on Oprah's "O" List, and were even voted by the Baltimore Sun as the best mail-order crab cake (although this was back in 1993).  So there may be some high hopes for the quality of these crab cakes.  Follow along and find how if their reputation precedes them!

The Blue Dolphin is a large, expansive operation consisting of multiple dining areas, a bar, and an event hall.  Serving modern American cuisine in an ornately decorated restaurant.  Definitely the place in the Crofton/Gambrills area to bring a large group as the seating is plentiful and the menu is expansive.  Although a bit on the pricey side, this is certainly where you spend your big night out if you're in the 'burbs.

So while gazing over the menu selections, you will take note of the "famous" crab cakes.  While your eye may start to wander and drool over the steaks and other seafood offerings, if you are anything like the CCR, you can't help but wonder just how good are the crab cakes?  Friend of the CCR, Cheryl, even wrote in saying how much she liked their crab cakes and recommended them to us.  (Of course, this was a day or two after I had already been there, but it's the thought that counts!)  How did they rate in the world of crab cakes?  Read along and find out!

Ah....the beach.  Or as we call it around these parts "downy ocean, hon".  While most beaches can provide fun, sun, sand and seafood, Ocean City is one of the few places on the Eastern Seaboard where you can get a true Maryland crab cake.  And taking a drive up and down Coastal Highway (otherwise known as Hormone Highway if it's Junebug season), you notice the plethora of crab houses offering up Maryland's finest.  It can be a nerve-racking decision as to which location you will patronize, especially if you are just there for a day.

If you are anything like the CCR, then you'll be thinking of enjoying a seriously good crab cake after spending some time on the boards (be that surf, boogie or the boardwalk).  And while any crab house can serve up a crab cake, it takes a place like the Crabcake Factory USA to let you know what their specialty is.  Despite having a not so stellar experience at another "factory", I decided to throw caution to the wind and see what it was they had to offer.

The Crabcake Factory USA has been around since 1986, making crab cakes fresh in Ocean City and shipping them all around the world.  There is even a sign outside of their restaurant on 120th St boasting the over one million crab cakes being sold/shipped.  But do the crab cakes live up to the hype?  Let's find out!