Much of the regional cuisine of southern Maryland is related to the Chesapeake Bay which borders southern Maryland on two sides. Local foods include steamed blue crabs, fried soft-shelled crabs, rockfish also known as striped bass, oysters and southern Maryland stuffed ham, a spice concoction of greens stuffed into a cured ham. Unfortunately, the Chesapeake Bay oyster population has crashed in recent years so local oysters are difficult to find. Southern Maryland also has excellent barbecue, which is similar in style to North Carolina barbecue-smoked, pulled pork basted with an oil/vinegar sauce.
