Hi,

I lived in Maryland in the 1960's from first through fourth grades. One of my favorite foods were cod cakes from the local grocery store. They appeared to be made on the premises or made elsewhere and packaged at the store. What do I know, I was barely 10 years old when we moved.

When I have returned to the Washington, D.C. area, I tried to search out what I recalled and never quite found it.

This afternoon I received an e-mail about a new website founded by four food writers featuring American food called American Food Roots. Roaming around I found an essay, videoclip and recipe for Baltimore Coddies.



I have a feeling I may have found what I liked and missed all these years.

Regards,

Cathy,

I tried coddies for the first time afew summers ago at Lexington Market's Faidley's Seafood. Interesting story behind them.

http://www2.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=2322

Hi Ron,

Thanks for the interesting link.

I was reminded I had a Coddie at Findley's a few years ago. All I likely ate was a quarter portion, because I was sharing a number of things with others. I have a feeling it was without saltines and mustard, though that presentation would have been foreign to my experience.

At our household these supermarket purchased cod cakes went into the oven to warm through. We ate them for dinner with tartare sauce. My parents were Midwesterners who very likely never knew these cod cakes (as we called them) should be eaten between saltines with yellow mustard. Yet we loved them so.

We lived over four years in Maryland, though I never saw a Maryland blue crab. I was shocked when I returned less than 10 years later to find roadside trucks selling them by the bag. I asked my Mom why we never had blue crab at home or anywhere else. The answer was plain and simple, "I didn't know how to cook or eat them."

I am buying some salted cod to give this a whirl. I hope it is as good as I remember.

Regards,