So excited to read the coddie report! We live within walking distance of Dylan’s and they are def my favorite coddies in town. When we first moved to this part of the city, 25 or so years ago, there were still corner stores with coddies sitting on the counter.
Somewhat ashamed to say I actually never tried them. I was reluctant to eat something that was clearly just sitting on a counter under smeary plastic for hours. I don’t think they were warm so my expectation was that they would’ve just been handed to you cold.
That’s the impression I got. That they were eating cold. One of the readers sent the article to his mom and she said she used to ride her bike to a pharmacy and have caddies and a chocolate soda. And they were cold..
This was so much fun to read… I personally loved the photo of the coddies with two mustards next to them, both in plastic squeeze dispensers. There was the yellow mustard and next to it the DELI mustard. I’m glad Baltimore is not on my travel list anytime soon because my husband and I would go to every place that you two went to.
I’ll see you in New Jersey for the NJ fried hot dog crawl. lol 😂
We live right near Hiram’s. We’ve lived here for two years and have yet to go. When my parents lived in Fort Lee(1972-1992), went all the time and Callahans was next door- so went there too!
When the hub and I lived uptown west Manhattan until we moved to Fort Lee, we’d go to Hiram’s all the time.
So just say when … meantime I’ll find the NJ.com and former (Bergen Record online ) now northernnj.com hot dog ratings. Supposedly son of Callahan’s had a truck for a while and may be doing truck again ( I think? My memory is not what it used to be)… and a real storefront but not around Fort Lee.
And then even though they’re not fried, we have to go to the land of my birth, Brooklyn. Coney Island in particular because even though they’re not what they used to be, and the prices are outrageous, Nathan’s is still Nathan’s.
Wow! Ok I need to stop just quick layovering in Baltimore and go stay a coupla days! I really love y'all's research and adventures. Not the same, I know, but it's my only reference point - I dated a woman who lived in Atlanta and on one of my trips there she took me to a great seafood restaurant to introduce me to conch fritters. They were delicious
Wow, awesome! The most exciting thing I did in 6th grade was start playing violin, to add to 3 years of piano. Well, and catching all the slimy and scaly critters I could find in the woods behind our house in South Texas.
We always ate coddies cold ( room temperature). They were not restaurant fair. Not even bar food. Of course you might find a tray of them on a bar for sale. Like one would see pickled eggs. What people seem to be offering here sound more like Brandade Fritters.
I want to try a coddie! So interesting that it's yellow mustard as standard accompaniment. Also, what the heck is stuffed ham? Inquiring minds want to know.
Hi Kathleen! We didn’t search for it, so I only read that it started with Slaves being given off cuts of the pig and they took greens and spices and inserted it to the meat. Wrapped it all in cloth and boiled until done. Then, the slave owners saw how good it was and adopted it with better cutting meat. It’s most a fall/Christmas dish, but some folks eat it at Easter. It’s a Southern Maryland thing, which is the main reason it wasn’t an option. It reminds me of how my first MIL used to prepare her pernil—but that was roasted.
Things I didn’t know I needed! A friend in NOLA made a stuffed ham for Thanksgiving last year--it was delightfully odd and fantastic. And now I need a coddie! Filing this away for an August ADI trip to Baltimore...
I grew up in Baltimore in the 80s/90s (a 10-15 min walk from both Broadway Market and Attmans) and don't remember coddies being much of a thing. And they hadn't really reemerged before I left town in 2000. I'll have to seek some out next time I visit my mom. Faidley's is always worth a trip.
Oh, and if you do ever make another trip for stuffed ham, Chaptico Market way, way down in Chaptico is the place to get it. We make a multi-hour detour pretty much every December to pick up a platter.
I love this piece and can't wait to share it with my mom and her sisters! Their grandfather, Sam Sherman, was also a Baltimore coddie guy. My family insists they were better than Cohen's :) I wrote this little blog post years ago https://findingblanche.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/coddies/ PS I agree, Dylan's coddies are awfully good while not 100% traditional. They told my husband and me that they would smush them for us next time!
So excited to read the coddie report! We live within walking distance of Dylan’s and they are def my favorite coddies in town. When we first moved to this part of the city, 25 or so years ago, there were still corner stores with coddies sitting on the counter.
No way. Did you eat them? Were they eaten cold?
Somewhat ashamed to say I actually never tried them. I was reluctant to eat something that was clearly just sitting on a counter under smeary plastic for hours. I don’t think they were warm so my expectation was that they would’ve just been handed to you cold.
That’s the impression I got. That they were eating cold. One of the readers sent the article to his mom and she said she used to ride her bike to a pharmacy and have caddies and a chocolate soda. And they were cold..
This was so much fun to read… I personally loved the photo of the coddies with two mustards next to them, both in plastic squeeze dispensers. There was the yellow mustard and next to it the DELI mustard. I’m glad Baltimore is not on my travel list anytime soon because my husband and I would go to every place that you two went to.
I’ll see you in New Jersey for the NJ fried hot dog crawl. lol 😂
You’re on!!!
We live right near Hiram’s. We’ve lived here for two years and have yet to go. When my parents lived in Fort Lee(1972-1992), went all the time and Callahans was next door- so went there too!
When the hub and I lived uptown west Manhattan until we moved to Fort Lee, we’d go to Hiram’s all the time.
So just say when … meantime I’ll find the NJ.com and former (Bergen Record online ) now northernnj.com hot dog ratings. Supposedly son of Callahan’s had a truck for a while and may be doing truck again ( I think? My memory is not what it used to be)… and a real storefront but not around Fort Lee.
And then even though they’re not fried, we have to go to the land of my birth, Brooklyn. Coney Island in particular because even though they’re not what they used to be, and the prices are outrageous, Nathan’s is still Nathan’s.
Yes! We love Hiram’s. And Nathan’s. You are right there - Coney Island Nathan’s is still Nathan’s.
Wow! Ok I need to stop just quick layovering in Baltimore and go stay a coupla days! I really love y'all's research and adventures. Not the same, I know, but it's my only reference point - I dated a woman who lived in Atlanta and on one of my trips there she took me to a great seafood restaurant to introduce me to conch fritters. They were delicious
I love conch fritters — I grew up going to Key West and went “conching” wit my sixth grade teacher.
Wow, awesome! The most exciting thing I did in 6th grade was start playing violin, to add to 3 years of piano. Well, and catching all the slimy and scaly critters I could find in the woods behind our house in South Texas.
Never heard of coddies (I’m in Wisconsin). They are now my food obsession. Absolutely fantastic article! Great work!!
Thank you! I’m pretty obsessed too!
The Essen Room Coddies look to be the most authentic.
Thank you!!!
We always ate coddies cold ( room temperature). They were not restaurant fair. Not even bar food. Of course you might find a tray of them on a bar for sale. Like one would see pickled eggs. What people seem to be offering here sound more like Brandade Fritters.
I have heard of Brandade Fritters, but not had them.
What a great article and fantastic adventure!!
Thank you!! It was truly fun!
I want to try a coddie! So interesting that it's yellow mustard as standard accompaniment. Also, what the heck is stuffed ham? Inquiring minds want to know.
Hi Kathleen! We didn’t search for it, so I only read that it started with Slaves being given off cuts of the pig and they took greens and spices and inserted it to the meat. Wrapped it all in cloth and boiled until done. Then, the slave owners saw how good it was and adopted it with better cutting meat. It’s most a fall/Christmas dish, but some folks eat it at Easter. It’s a Southern Maryland thing, which is the main reason it wasn’t an option. It reminds me of how my first MIL used to prepare her pernil—but that was roasted.
I’m sure other people know more! Yum!
You may need to take another field trip to Southern Maryland!
Sounds good! You know I love Ham. And Jesse mentioned Chaptico Market below. First stop!
Things I didn’t know I needed! A friend in NOLA made a stuffed ham for Thanksgiving last year--it was delightfully odd and fantastic. And now I need a coddie! Filing this away for an August ADI trip to Baltimore...
I really want stuffed ham now too. And more Coddies.
I grew up in Baltimore in the 80s/90s (a 10-15 min walk from both Broadway Market and Attmans) and don't remember coddies being much of a thing. And they hadn't really reemerged before I left town in 2000. I'll have to seek some out next time I visit my mom. Faidley's is always worth a trip.
Oh, and if you do ever make another trip for stuffed ham, Chaptico Market way, way down in Chaptico is the place to get it. We make a multi-hour detour pretty much every December to pick up a platter.
I very much want to try stuffed ham!
We are going!! Thanks for the tip!!
This is making me want to go get coddies right now!! Also, you really do need to stop wearing that “I’m a jerk” sign..
Ha! Right? ❤️ Replacing it now with “I ❤️ Coddies”
I love this piece and can't wait to share it with my mom and her sisters! Their grandfather, Sam Sherman, was also a Baltimore coddie guy. My family insists they were better than Cohen's :) I wrote this little blog post years ago https://findingblanche.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/coddies/ PS I agree, Dylan's coddies are awfully good while not 100% traditional. They told my husband and me that they would smush them for us next time!
I did my own smushing!
I love this your comment - and your blog post! Thank you for sharing it!
One last question…I didn’t see a recipe. Is there one? ❤️😅
Thank you! I think my mom has the recipe, I'll ask. I do remember it's for a HUGE quantity!
That would be amazing!! Coddie party!!
Sherman's Coddies (yield 2 doz)
1 pkg cod fish (wow that's nonspecific)
1/4 cup rice
4 large potatoes
sprinkle red pepper
sprinkle dry mustard
1 egg
Cook potatoes & mash well. Add pasted rice. Let cool. Add fish and seasoning. Mix in cracker meal (not even listed in ingredients!). Deep fry.
*note: when cooking rice, use just enough water to cover the rice.
Thank you!
I love this so much! This reminds me of when my mom would always say, “cook it until it’s done”
White wine? Or beer?
Both!