2026 Governor’s Buy Local Cookout Returns to Government House for a Delicious Evening of Local Foods

ANNAPOLIS, MD (October 07, 2026) – The Governor’s Annual Buy Local Cookout returned to Government House on October 5, 2026, featuring the following local sources: 24 producers, 11 restaurants, five creameries, three distilleries, two wineries and one beer vendor. Typically celebrated during Buy Local Week, this year’s celebration was postponed due to hazardous air quality from the Canadian wildfires back in July. 

The Governor’s Buy Local Cookout is a celebration for Maryland’s hard-working agricultural community and a reminder to support local communities and businesses by buying and eating local. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2022 Census of Agriculture, Maryland has 12,550 farms on just under two million acres of land. Salisbury University’s Business Economic and Community Outreach Network (BEACON) and the Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industries Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) found in 2023, that the State’s seafood sector contributed over $317.4 million to Maryland’s economy and supported over 3,000 jobs. 

“Maryland’s farmers, watermen and restaurateurs are the heart of our state’s agricultural community, and the success of this year’s Buy Local Cookout is a testament to the incredible products they grow, harvest and create each day,” said Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks. “When Marylanders choose local, they support their neighbors and communities, create opportunities for local businesses and put fresh, nutritious foods on their table. Each year, this event shows us what is possible when we connect our talented producers with chefs and consumers to celebrate the very best of our State’s agriculture.” 

This year’s Cookout featured the following teams of restaurants and producers cooking up these delicious dishes:

• Native Maryland Three Sisters Soup: Chef Dale Savel-Turek from Johns Hopkins University Dining and Richfield Farm
• “Blue Coat” Bourdon Bacon Corn Salad: Chef Dave Eichler from Richardson Farms
• Chesapeake Cream of Crab Soup: Government House Culinary Team and Cloverland Farms Dairy and J.M. Clayton Seafood Company.
• Sweet Corn Panna Cotta with Crab: Chef Rasheed Abdurrahman from Food and Friends and Moon Valley Farm and Russell Hall Seafood. 
• Pumpkin-Chipotle Pernil with Avocado Crema and Queso Fresco: Chef Monica Alvarado from Bread and Butter Kitchen and New Roots Farm, Shlagel Farms and Mise En Place Farm.
• Roasted Turkey with Apple Slaw: Chef Jason Finnerty from Brewer’s Alley and Moo Cow Creamery, Hillside Turkey Farms and 78 Acres.
• Maryland Waters, Salvadoran Roots: Chef Roxana Rodriguez from Caliente Grill and Wild Country Seafood. 
• Smoked Blue Catfish Tartelette: Chef Scott Bacon from The Fishmonger’s Daughter and Tilghman Island Seafood. 
• The Free State Chili Dog with Potlikker Slaw and Jubilee Punch: Chef Keema Johnson from Keep it Tasteful and Third Way Farm, The People’s Market and Bowman’s Butcher.
• The Iron Ranch: Ancho Chili and Coffee-Crusted Ribeye, Mexican Street Corn Fritters and Chimichurri: Chef Mike Everd from Evolved Hospitality and Grand View Farm. 
• Eat Like a Human Double Smashburger: Chef Bill Schindler from Modern Stone Age Kitchen and Tidewater Organics, Crow Farm, Lagenfelder Pork, Nice Farms Dairy, Lockbriar Farms and Red Acres.

Recipes were chosen based on their simplicity, creativity, ingredient availability, geographic representation and use of local ingredients. To be considered, at least 50% of the ingredients must have been locally sourced. Special consideration was given to those recipes that provided a connection to America’s 250th anniversary. 

The event also featured the following local ice cream, oysters and beverage vendors:

• Deere Valley Farm
• Lockbriar Farms
• Prigel Family Creamery
• Rocky Point Creamery
• South Mountain Creamery

• Annapolis Oyster Company
• Fallen Pine Oysters
• Madhouse Oysters

• Arthur Wheeler Distillery
• Cane Collective
• Chesapeake Manor Vineyard
• Clyopatra Winery & Vineyard
• Farmstand Lemonade
• Milkhouse Brewery
• Sagamore Distillery
• Song Dog Farm Distillery

Congratulations go to Modern Stone Age Kitchen who took home the People’s Choice Award! Each recipe can be recreated at home and is found on the Maryland’s Best website. 

MDA sincerely thanks Horizon Farm Credit, Klein’s Shop Rite, MARBIDCO, Maryland Farm & Harvest, Maryland Nursery Landscape Grower Association, Maryland Public Television, Montgomery County Office of Agriculture, Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC) and Sea Watch for making this year’s event a success! Please contact Director of Special Projects Kristin Hanna at [email protected] with any questions.

# # #

Event Photos: flickr.com/photos/mdgovpics/albums/72177720336028199 

Chef Biographies: https://mda.maryland.gov/Documents/2026%20Chef%20Bios.pdf 

Recipe Book: https://marylandsbest.maryland.gov/buy-local-cookbook-2026/