Local Food Finds

Your weekly dose of some cool food and dining finds around town!

Dog Coffee Trailer, Flamingle Punch, Soft Shell Crabs, Hot Cake Donuts, and Pizza Showdown

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• Grab your dog and walk (or drive) over to Oscar’s Coffee in Eastport. This veteran, LGBTQ+, dog-lover-owned business serves approachable (aka no snobby attitudes allowed), quality coffee, tea, pup cups, and light fares from a retrofitted 1972 Shasta trailer. They promise us three things: 1) They will be a good neighbor; 2) They will always nail the basics; and, 3) We always matter. Their Spring menu features lavender lattes, lavender vanilla cold foam cold brews, Thai iced teas, and strawberry mint matcha lemonades. Oscar’s has even partnered up with The Coastery to offer Italian breakfast cakes and Nonna’s Italian biscotti. There’s plenty of picnic tables with umbrellas and views of Back Creek, so sit back and enjoy the scenery.
  • P.S. You may have already guessed it – Oscar is the name of their dog!

• What’s the name of Mr. Crab’s daughter from Spongebob Square Pants? Pearl! It’s also the name of the newest restaurant in downtown Annapolis. This beautifully decorated hotspot locally sources their ingredients and blends artisan cocktails and gourmet fare. Highlights include their prosciutto and burrata starter, rockfish and shrimp ceviche (served with plantain chips), fried catfish sliders, heart of palm, and key lime beignets. Be sure to bring some friends and order the flamingle punch bowl (Absolut Elyx, velvet falernum, Lillet Rouge, prosecco, passion fruit, and lime), served in an over-the-top rose gold flamingo pitcher.
  • After eating, head upstairs to Ponche Tiki Bar and be transported into a scene from Pirates of the Caribbean. There is no shortage of tiki statues, bamboo, and skulls.
• It’s that time of year – it’s softshell crab season! Let’s be honest – you either love it or hate it. If you haven’t tried a softshell crab yet, Boatyard Bar and Grill does it justice. Order a softshell crab sandwich – you will receive a delicious jumbo softshell crab, dipped in buttermilk, then lightly coated with panko and corn flake crumbs, fried, and served on toasted thick-sliced sourdough with lettuce, tomato, and house-made tartar sauce.
• If you like them hot and fresh, look no further! I’m talking about cake donuts from Sandy Pony Donuts. They serve over 24 unique flavors, including seasonal and monthly flavors. Favorites include the Ms. Sandy (glaze with cinnamon sugar), porky pony (glaze, cinnamon sugar, and bacon), strawberry stallion (strawberry glaze and powdered sugar), misty mint (mint glaze and mini chocolate chips), and Mary lee-mon (lemon glaze, powdered sugar, and graham cracker). Sandy Pony Donuts also has gluten-free donuts available in most of their flavors, acai bowls (try one with granola, strawberries, Nutella, and honey), smoothies, Rise Up coffee, tea, and bubble tea. You can enjoy Sandy Pony Donuts in Annapolis, Chincoteague Island (the OG location), Bethany Beach, and Dewey Beach.
  • Hours for Annapolis: Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Fridays through Sundays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

What better way to duke it out, than with dough, sauce, and cheese? Next Sunday, June 2 from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., don’t miss the Pizza Throwdown between Seasalt (restaurant coming soon) and Vin 909, hosted by Timber Pizza at InGrano Restaurant and Events. Timber Pizza will be available for sale throughout the event, as well as beer, wine, and specialty cocktails from InGrano. Participation tickets are $25, which includes one drink ticket, one ticket to vote, and a tasting of each competition slice. General admission tickets are free, which gets you in the door to watch the throwdown.