Story Behind the Card - Maryland and The Crabby Pretzel

If you're hungry, maybe save this post for later because I can just taste it now.  A warm soft pretzel, smothered in creamy crab dip spiked with Old Bay, and ooey-gooey cheese melted on top, baked to golden perfection.  In our humble opinion it's best when that ratio of pretzel to crab dip hits just right with just the right amount of spice.

It's a Maryland delicacy for sure, found on many a pub and seafood house menu.  They're usually big enough to share, as everyone at the table takes turns tearing off a tasty hunk. But who had the original idea to combine the warm baked goodness of a pretzel with the satisfying deliciousness of crab dip and cheese that we have come to love?

Marylanders are known to put crab on just about anything, so why knot a pretzel?  See what we did there? Several restaurants claim to have invented the mouthwatering concoction, and the Silver Spring Mining Company is pretty adamant that theirs is the first. They even say so on their menu, calling themselves "Home of the original Maryland Crab Pretzel." And they can also boast some pretty good reviews.  But as with many great culinary creations, no one can really say for sure.  What we do know is that it's definitely a Maryland thing.

If you want to make your own crabby pretzel at home, start with a large soft pretzel, the bigger the better, to hold all that creamy crab. Bake your pretzel in the oven at 400 degrees for five minutes. Not too long because a tough pretzel can really ruin the whole experience. Make your favorite crab dip. We prefer Maggie Moore's secret recipe. Gramom made the best crab dip! Put it in a pastry bag so you can get a good layer of dip on your pretzel. Then top with shredded cheddar or the cheese of your choice, and return to the oven until it's bubbling and golden brown. Here's a great step-by-step recipe. To go with your pretzel, we recommend a Natty Boh or an Orange Crush, for a true authentic experience.

If you're not up to making your own, there are plenty of local spots that serve up a great version of the crabby classic, so why go to all that trouble? Eater DC named the following nine restaurants as the best to serve the dish. You can find their full crab pretzel reviews here. This may even call for a field trip to all nine so we can decide our own favorite.

• Jimmy's Famous Seafood (Baltimore)
• Stained Glass Pub (Glenmont location)
• The Crab Shack (Crofton location)
• Silver Spring Mining Co. (Perry Hall location)
• Cantler's Riverside Inn (Annapolis)
• Looney's Pub (College Park location)
• Chessie's Wharf (Annapolis)
• Davis' Pub (Annapolis)
• TAP Sports Bar (National Harbor)

Let us know below where you get the best around!