Charlestown Wins a Top Prize in 22nd Annual Crab Soup Cook-Off

Retirement community's Dining Services Team scores with Classic Maryland Crab recipe during Maryland Seafood Festival

CATONSVILLE, MD---The Dining Services Team from Charlestown retirement community won first place for the best Classic Maryland crab soup during the 22nd Annual Crab Soup Cook-Off at the 2012 Maryland Seafood Festival.
The competition was held on Saturday, September 8th at Sandy Point State Park on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay.  The community earned its award as selected by a panel of culinary experts.
The cook-off included twenty teams from Maryland, including well-recognized restaurants like Azure Annapolis, Bella Napoli Italian Restaurant, Federal House Bar & Grill, Jimmy's Famous Seafood and Oceanaire Seafood Room.  It was Charlestown's first time participating in the prestigious event.
"Our team had a great time representing Charlestown and meeting very knowledgeable seafood connoisseurs from across the state," said Larry Snowberger, Director of Dining Services for the Erickson Living retirement community.  "We enjoy doing all we can to create exceptional dining experiences for our residents, and this award demonstrates our commitment to that goal."
The Charlestown team entered soups in three categories:  Classic Maryland Crab, Cream of Crab and "Alternative Crab" (Crab & Roasted Corn Chowder).
In the planning for six months, the entries from Charlestown were truly a group effort.  The soup recipes were initiated by a chef and then sampled in committee to determine the best flavor and taste.
So what is the secret to preparing delicious crab soup?
"As thousands of Marylanders pick crabs after a feast for the sole purpose of making crab soup, the pressure was on to present a tasty recipe," described Mr. Snowberger.  "Our secret is simple: use fresh, local product and cook it with love!"
Dining Services team members representing Charlestown were Executive Chef Susie Seykoski, Chef de Cuisines Brian Pearsall, Joe Chatman & Chuck Nitsch, 1st Cook Veronica Chery, Line Cook Renee Lucas, Catering Events Manager Mary Jo Gubricky and Catering Events Coordinator Brittany Stirn.   For more information about the event, please visit www.mdseafoodfestival.com.

About Charlestown: Charlestown, managed and developed by Erickson Living, is a retirement community that provides worry-free living for America's seniors-the country's fastest growing population segment.  Erickson Living's financial value and predictable monthly service fees provide residents across the country financial peace of mind.  Comprehensive health and wellness services, integrated into our continuum of care, lead to demonstrated resident benefits.  A robust complement of resident programs and facilities promote an engaged, fulfilling lifestyle that is reflected in resident satisfaction levels that exceed the industry average.  For more information, please visit www.ericksonliving.com.

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