Cannoli

Starting off our list, the number ten spot goes to the cannoli!

I was looking forward to learning about this one. Growing up in Jersey, I’ve eaten a fair share of gannoles in my day.

Cannolis are the Italian pastries that we all know, love, and recognize for their tubular crunchy fried dough shell and sweet cheese-based filling. Sometimes chocolate chips are mixed throughout this filling as well. Sometimes the cannolis are also dipped in chocolate chips or pistachios for some extra crunch on both ends.

The shells are crunchy and only slightly sweet and taste like fried dough, exactly what they are. Taste-wise, think of a plain, unfrosted donut, and for the filling, think of slightly sweet ricotta cheese goodness.

Now, cannoli are believed to have made their start somewhere in central Italy between 827 and 1091 AD as a celebratory treat before lent. Some think they might have been a symbol of fertility. I wonder why?

Crab Dip

Number nine goes to crab dip!

Crab dip, is so engrained in the area that it’s sometimes referred to as “Maryland crab dip.” The dip could be composed of cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, shredded cheese, worcestershire, lemon juice, spices, old bay and of course, crab meat. These guys are all mixed together before it’s sprinkled with some more shredded cheese for extra gooiness. What you’d be left with is a creamy, cheesy dip thats very crab forward and served hot. It also be served with some tools for scoopage like veggies, bread, crackers, or if you’re feeling really harcore, you can always to straight in with your spoon.

Ice Cream

The number eight spot goes to ice cream. Yum.

For those of you that haven't experienced this frozen dairy-based sweetsation, you are truly missing out.

Ice cream is defined as "a soft frozen food made with sweetened and flavored milk fat." But things can get a little confusing here. "Ice cream" can refer to a few different frozen treats, including but not limited to frozen yogurt, custard, sorbet gelato, or anything that really resembles it. One can also enjoy ice cream via different consumption vehicles like an ice cream cone, a cup, or if it's warm enough and starts melting faster than you can eat it, then you might have to lick it off your fingers. No hate.

Ice cream is satisfying and creamy with endless flavors. The most popular are vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, but one can also find more exotic flavors, such as coconut, pistachio, rum raisin (my favorite), or mint chocolate chip. Toppings here are also pretty endless—sprinkles, hot fudge, different candies, whipped cream, and cherries, to name a few.

Now, there are a bunch of places in Ocean city to experience ice cream. I challenge you to try them all!

Crab Cakes

Number seven goes to the crab cake!

These meatball-looking fish bombs of delicious are made with, you guessed it, crab! The crabmeat is held together with breadcrumbs, mayo, maybe some mustard, maybe some egg, some spices. Once thoroughly incorporated, the crab meat mixture is rolled into balls and then cooked. Typically you will find crab cakes fried, baked, or broiled. These guys definitely taste like crab; slightly sweet, meaty, with light fishiness. Crab is king.

You can either find crab cakes in between two rolls as a sandwich or served on a platter with coleslaw, fries, or some sort of salad. No matter how you find them, they’ll almost always be accompanied by tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, and lemon.

Now, the blue crab is very closely associated with Maryland, and rightfully so, but more on that later.

Caramel Corn

The number six spot goes to the sweet, the crunchy, the caramel corn.

Caramel corn is a popped corn kernel coated with a thin layer of caramel, making the popcorn sweeter and slightly crunchier.

If you aren't familiar with popcorn, let's start there. Popcorn is a corn kernel that has expanded, breaking through its strong outer shell from the presence of heat. There is a tiny bit of water within every seemingly dried kernel of corn. When that water is heated enough, it expands as it turns into gas, breaking through the kernel's pericarp and exposing the poof.

On the other hand, caramel is the product of toasting sugar to the point of melting and browning. Other ingredients like butter or cream could and should be added in there too. What you're left with is the perfect ingredient to coat your popcorn. It adds sweetness, butteriness, slight bitterness with notes of toasted sugar.

Now, popcorn and all its variations have become a synonymous muncharoo for boardwalk beach nights in most places, but it seems like Ocean City has been on trend since the mid-to-late 1930s. This is historically appropriate. Popcorn became accessible to most Americans in the 1890s. However, it only really became popular around 1930 as a direct reflection of the Great Depression. At that point, popcorn was fairly inexpensive and was an affordable way not to starve. So, is it a coincidence that popcorn and caramel corn popped up in the OC right after the Great Depression and the popcorn popularity boom? I think not! I think it's more because people learned to love it and the local businesses saw an opportunity to make a buck. Yum.

Pizza

Number five goes to the Italian baked wheel of wonder, the pizza.

This leavened-crusted pie is topped with tomato sauce and cheese at its most familiar point. However, toppings are endless, and the orderer can go hog wild. Common toppings include pepperoni, sausage, onions, peppers, mushrooms, anchovies, garlic, but the list goes on and on. Afterthought toppings can also include dried chili pepper flakes, garlic powder, dried oregano, or grated parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.

In America, pizza is generally a hand food. The circular pie is cut into eight slices; these slices are picked up by the eater, folded in a way that resembles a paper airplane, and consumed.

The crust is chewy on the inside, crispy on the outside, the sauce is tangy, and the cheese is stringy. Some say there's no such thing as a bad pizza, and most will agree.

Now, boardwalks throughout the east coast have made pizza a ubiquitous beach bite, and Ocean City is no exception. However, New York City is the birthplace of the American pizza pie. Check out our video where we cover the top ten foods of New York City by clicking the link in the description below.

Bloody Mary

The number four spot goes to the bloody mary!

At its simplest point, this cocktail is made from tomato juice and vodka. But things can get crazy here fast. It seems like every breakfast or brunch place with a bar has their own rendition. They can be flavored with various spices and herbs, hot sauces or Worcestershire, horseradish, lemon, lime. But it can also be enhanced to the point of becoming a meal with garlic, slices of bacon, mini slider cheeseburgers, celery, shrimp, or spare ribs. We’re talking about the A-1 hangover cure that many refuse to drink because it might resemble marinara or cocktail sauce a little too closely. Think savory, potentially spicy, tomato flavor that sits in your stomach comfortably after a blurry night of singing piano man at the local karaoke bar.

Now, there’s no direct correlation that I could find that directly links the popularity of this drink with the history of Ocean City. But Ocean City is a beach town, and many visitors of beach towns experience breakfast hungover. If you have any other thoughts on its popularity here, please let us know in the comments below.

Orange Crush

Number three goes to the orange crush!

This refreshing, sweet cocktail might just be that boost of vitamin c you were looking for while bar hopping on the boards, sipping discreetly on the sand, or throwing the ole pigskin at your Air BnB. It’s a combination of fresh orange juice, orange vodka, triple sec, or some sort of orange liqueur and topped with a lemon-lime soda- served on ice. Taste-wise, we’re undoubtedly talking orange. However, there have been many variations since its creation, including creamsicle, grapefruit, lemon, lime, just to name a few.

Now, this cocktail is believed to have made its start in Ocean City, specifically at the Harborside Bar & Grille in 1995, and has become associated with the city and state ever since.

Blue Crab

The number two spot on our list goes to the blue crab!

This crab species can also be referred to as the "Atlantic blue crab" or the "Chesapeake blue crab." These names are relevant, as Ocean City, MD, gives coastline to the Atlantic Ocean and is pretty darn close to the Chesapeake Bay, the two bodies of water that give this crustacean its alternate nomenclatural denominations. These crabs found a home in the Gulf of Mexico, as west as Louisiana and as northeast as the Jersey shore. What up, Jersey? Let's go crabbing.

Taste-wise, we're talking sweet and salty with a mildly fishy taste. Maybe I'm biased because I grew up eating these things, but they are one of the best ways to experience the flavor of the Atlantic. They are so good, super flaky, and super tender.

These guys will be prepared in many different ways, some already mentioned on this list. The fact that they've had multiple mentions in this top ten list suggests mondo importance to the area, its aquatic biomes, and both maricultural and gastronomic economies. However, if you'd like to experience the pure flavors of this bottom-dweller, I suggest cooking them whole, in their shell, and boiled. Maybe add some butter and old bay seasoning, but cap it there. There's nothing like cracking open your own blue crabs around the table with friends and family. Sidenote: I'm sure you'll master the deshelling process during your first crab deshucking experience, but you will need to learn. I want to give a big personal shoutout to the Marshal family for teaching me this priceless skillset. Thank you, I love you guys.

French Fries

The number one spot recommended by natives, locals, and visitors goes to the french fry! And although we try to avoid singling out specific businesses here, the results were unanimous. Thrasher’s french fries were the clear winner of all the Ocean City, MD foods.

But let’s back up a little bit. These boardwalk staples are deep-fried prismatic strips of potato. They’re crispy on the outside, soft and pillowy on the inside, a little greasy from the peanut-based frying oil, and salty from their seasoning. For all who are familiar with the french fry, you might be surprised to hear that ketchup is not endorsed at this establishment; apple cider vinegar is the only approved condiment. In this case, the Idaho russet potato is being used.

One might usually find french fries served with lunch or dinner alongside a burger, fried fish, or a sandwich. At Thrasher’s, that’s not the case. They are purists and only serve their fries straight up as the main event, and I love that.

Now, the first Thrasher’s location made its start in 1929 on Ocean City’s boardwalk and was the first food stand that only sold one item. Ever since they’ve opened, they’ve mastered their creation and have become an Ocean City icon.

Top 10 Foods: What to Eat in Ocean City, MD