06/23/2012
The Sweet Potato Ham Biscuits served at Sting-Ray’s Restaurant, in Cape Charles, Va., are a great way to start the day. [Photo by: Michael Stern]
<< PREVIOUS: Southern Comfort
Start in: Baltimore
What you’ll find: What you’ll find: No doubt about it—the Chesapeake Bay is blue crab territory. Head to the Eastern Shore for two great places to indulge while soaking up the scenery: The Narrows Restaurant in Grasonville, Md., which offers both spectacular views and a delicious cream of crab soup, served with a side of sherry to mix in; or Suicide Bridge Restaurant in Hurlock, nestled along the waterfront of Cabin Creek—complete with ducks waddling around by the pier.
Venture south and cross over to Virginia’s Eastern Shore, another well-known seafood lover’s paradise. For local fish and oysters at reasonable prices, make your way down U.S. Route 13 to Metompkin Seafood (757-824-0503) in Mappsville, a ramshackle market with weathered outdoor picnic tables. Also worth sampling: a local treat called Smith Island Cake. Named for an island in the bay, this mouthwatering creation features alternating layers of wafer-thin yellow cake and creamy chocolate frosting. It’s one of the specialities at Becca’s Cakes and More, a charming little bakery-café near Accomac.
Continue south on 13 and you’ll come to Big’s Place (757-442-5535) in Painter, which sells a dish unique to the area: Swelling Toads—sweet little panfish fried in butter. Cape Charles, not far from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, which leads to Virginia Beach, is home to Sting-Ray’s Restaurant, which is actually part of a filling station. Informal for sure, but don’t be deterred: This one-of-a-kind diner offers such upscale fare as Crab Imperial and stuffed flounder, as well as sweet potato pie, from a 40-year-plus-old recipe using local spuds.
Shoot us your kitchen queries, share your opinions, or just come and say "Hi!" on Facebook and on Twitter @dashrecipes
Start in: Baltimore
What you’ll find: What you’ll find: No doubt about it—the Chesapeake Bay is blue crab territory. Head to the Eastern Shore for two great places to indulge while soaking up the scenery: The Narrows Restaurant in Grasonville, Md., which offers both spectacular views and a delicious cream of crab soup, served with a side of sherry to mix in; or Suicide Bridge Restaurant in Hurlock, nestled along the waterfront of Cabin Creek—complete with ducks waddling around by the pier.
Venture south and cross over to Virginia’s Eastern Shore, another well-known seafood lover’s paradise. For local fish and oysters at reasonable prices, make your way down U.S. Route 13 to Metompkin Seafood (757-824-0503) in Mappsville, a ramshackle market with weathered outdoor picnic tables. Also worth sampling: a local treat called Smith Island Cake. Named for an island in the bay, this mouthwatering creation features alternating layers of wafer-thin yellow cake and creamy chocolate frosting. It’s one of the specialities at Becca’s Cakes and More, a charming little bakery-café near Accomac.
Continue south on 13 and you’ll come to Big’s Place (757-442-5535) in Painter, which sells a dish unique to the area: Swelling Toads—sweet little panfish fried in butter. Cape Charles, not far from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, which leads to Virginia Beach, is home to Sting-Ray’s Restaurant, which is actually part of a filling station. Informal for sure, but don’t be deterred: This one-of-a-kind diner offers such upscale fare as Crab Imperial and stuffed flounder, as well as sweet potato pie, from a 40-year-plus-old recipe using local spuds.
parade.com/roadtrip
Shoot us your kitchen queries, share your opinions, or just come and say "Hi!" on Facebook and on Twitter @dashrecipes
RELATED KEYWORDS:
