(Annapolis, MD) – Galway Bay Pub, a highly popular Irish restaurant on Maryland Avenue in the city of Annapolis, proudly serves Miss Peggy’s Crab Cakes as an entree, a sandwich, and as part of other combination dishes. These crab cakes are named after long-time Annapolitan Ethelda “Miss Peggy” Kimbo who was a fixture at the restaurant, and at its predecessor The Little Campus Inn, for over 50 years combined.

Everyone knew Miss Peggy, from Senators to neighborhood children, and she knew and loved everyone she met. Though she died in 2011 at the age of 81, she is remembered with love and admiration by the thousands of patrons and citizens who knew her, including former President Bill Clinton. The city honored her in 2013 by renaming a portion of Maryland Avenue as “Miss Peggy Way,” and by continuing to serve the crab cakes that bear her name, and which were made using her own secret recipe.

Annapolis native Anne Trader recently tried Miss Peggy’s crab cakes for the first time in her 75 years.. “My parents, Albert and Lois Trader, owned the flower shop that used to be across the street from Galway Bay. We lived in the apartment above the shop. I remember going into the Little Campus Inn, but not the side that had the bar; we weren’t allowed in there. The food was wonderful, but it was nothing compared to what I ate tonight. Those crab cakes are heavenly.”

Before she died, Peggy Kimbo made a large batch of crab cakes that she estimated would last the restaurant for at least ten years. She said that she knew how much the Annapolitans and politicians adored the crab cakes, and she wanted to make sure that they could enjoy them for years to come. She never did share the recipe for the crab cakes with anyone, not even the chefs at Galway Bay.

In the past few months, it become clear that the restaurant was running out of Miss Peggy’s crab cakes. Demand for the tasty treats had become so high that the ten-year supply didn’t last as long as expected, and would be gone as of July of this year. Michael Galway, owner of the restaurant said that he was a bit worried, but was holding out hope that customers would still come to his restaurant after the crab cake supply was depleted.

“We serve great food here, including Miss Peggy’s crab cakes. They are an important part of our offerings and tradition, but we really do serve other food. We have traditional Irish food mostly, which is why we are an Irish pub. The crab cakes aren’t Irish, but they are Mmmmmmm so good! And, they are an important part of our community and our city’s heritage.”

Late Friday night, Michael Galway was rummaging in the attic of the restaurant for a spare bagpipe reed, when he heard a humming coming from the far corner of the room.

“I’d never been to the far side of the attic before. It’s a bit creepy in there, and I like to get out as soon as I can.” When Galway had found a flashlight and started to explore the attic, he found that there was a door that was partially hidden by a rack of colonial costumes and feathered caps. Opening the door, he was astonished to see that it led to a walk-in freezer.

“I was suddenly very cold, and I realized at last why our electric bills had been so high for the past ten years,” Galway recalled. “But when I saw what was in the freezer, I almost had a heart attack!”

The freezer was filled from floor to ceiling with Miss Peggy’s crab cakes. Miss Peggy had left an enduring gift to the Annapolis community. Galway estimates that the supply will last for another 10 years at the rate that they are currently selling. Miss Peggy had thought of everything, but had apparently forgot to mention that she had the freezer installed.

“But that’s wasn’t all,” Galway continued. “Taped on the far wall of the freezer, I found an envelope. When I opened it up, I found a letter from Miss Peggy. It contained the recipe for her crab cakes, and was signed, ‘With much love, your friend, Peggy.’ And there was a P.S.: ‘Wrap yourself up good!’”