AUGUST 7, 2025
FREE
BERLIN • NORTH WORCESTER COUNTY• OCEAN PINES
Chefs tie on aprons for big-time chance Farmer’s market cook-off gives winner golden ticket to world championships By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Aug. 7, 2025) A handful of local chefs will compete at the Berlin Farmers Market this Sunday for a chance to attend 2025’s World Food Championships. This week, on Aug. 10, Berlin chefs will compete in a Guy’s Grocery Games-style competition at the town’s farmers market. The winner will receive a “golden ticket,” otherwise known as a qualifying slip, to participate in the World Food Championships (WFC) in Indiana in Octo-
ber. WFC is a global food sport competition. According to the WFC’s website, the contest is a multi-day, live culinary event that “showcases some of the world’s best cooks competing for food, fame, and fortune across twelve categories: Bacon, Barbecue, Burger, Chef, Dessert, Live Fire, Noodle, Rice, Sandwich, Seafood, Soup, and Vegetarian.” This year’s event is set for October 16-19 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. One winner will be selected from each of the 12 categories. These competitors will then spar for the top prize of $150,000. There are over 800 official qualifying events across the globe throughout the year, and on See LOCAL Page 3
Yacht club offering cruises to Seacrets Restaurant ups its game with 35-minute ride across bay ... with beverages, too
BRIAN SHANE, TOP, TARA FISCHER, ABOVE/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
EVENTS KICK OFF AG WEEK Worcester County government’s Agriculture Week, slated for Aug. 2-10, kicked off last Saturday with two featured events. Top, the Blessing of the Combines was held in Snow Hill, attracting approximately 8,000 people to celebrate local farmers. Above, thousands also attended the Berlin Peach Festival to celebrate the fruit once grown and harvested in the historic town.
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Aug. 7, 2025) Improvements and new partnerships are coming to the Ocean Pines food and beverage service, including a party boat experience from the community’s Yacht Club to Seacrets in Ocean City. Since this spring, restaurant group Touch of Italy (TOI) has been the operator of the Ocean Pines Associa-
tion’s food and beverage services. TOI and OPA signed a five-year contract in January for TOI to oversee the Ocean Pines Yacht Club, the Ocean Pines Beach Club in Ocean City, and the Clubhouse Bar and Grille. The arrangement was inked upon the expiration of previous vendor Matt Ortt Companies’ agreement with the homeowners’ association. Now, with a few months under their belt, TOI is enhancing OPA’s food and beverage experience. One such development is the new partnership between the Ocean Pines See YACHT Page 8
SAME GREAT OWNER, SAME AMAZING STAFF Serving the Community for over a Decade
GARDNER PT of Ocean Pines 11204 Racetrack Rd, Suite 101 • Ocean Pines, MD, 21811 410-208-1525
GARDNER PT of West Ocean City 12472 Sea Oaks Ln, Unit 1 • Berlin, MD 21811 410-747-3522