Ep 7. Baltimore and Chesapeake Bay

In season 9 episode 7 of Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, viewers are taken on a culinary tour of Baltimore and the Chesapeake Bay. Known for its seafood and unique cuisine, Baltimore offers a diverse array of dishes that are not found anywhere else in the world.

The episode begins with Zimmern exploring Baltimore's Inner Harbor, where he samples some of the city's famous hard-shell crabs. He then delves deeper into the city's culinary scene, visiting local eateries and meeting with chefs who have made a name for themselves in the industry.

One such place is Ekiben, a small but popular restaurant that specializes in Asian-inspired sandwiches. Here, Zimmern tries the signature "Original" bao bun, featuring a fried chicken thigh, pickles, and a sweet and spicy sauce. He also gets a taste of the "Fowl Play" made with duck confit and the vegetarian "Fish Out of Water" made with tofu.

Zimmern then heads to Lexington Market, one of the oldest continuously operating public markets in the country, to explore another side of Baltimore's food culture. Here, he learns about the history of the market and tries some of its most iconic dishes, including the famous Faidley's crab cake and the "Polock Johnny" sausage sandwich.

The episode then shifts its focus to the Chesapeake Bay, where Zimmern explores the area's seafood offerings. He visits a local hub for crab processing, where thousands of crabs are caught and prepared every day, and helps local fishermen pull in their crab pots.

Zimmern then heads to Rock Hall, a small town on the eastern shore of the bay, to sample some of the area's legendary oysters. He meets with one of the town's top oyster farmers, who takes him out on a boat to harvest the sought-after bivalves. While out on the water, he discovers the delicate and subtle flavor of the Chesapeake oyster and learns about the unique process of farming them.

The episode ends with Zimmern reflecting on the rich culinary history and unique food culture of Baltimore and the Chesapeake Bay. From its famous seafood to its innovative cuisine, the area is a food lover's paradise, and Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern gives viewers an inside look at the flavors and traditions that make it a truly special place.