Food, Drink & Bay Traditions

Food, Drink & Bay Traditions celebrates the bold coastal flavors and iconic dishes that define Chesapeake Bay cooking, from Maryland’s legendary crab cakes, rockfish, oysters, and Old Bay classics to Virginia’s Smithfield ham, Route 11 Chesapeake Crab chips, and famous Virginia peanuts. This section highlights the regional recipes, seafood traditions, and heritage foods that shape life along the Bay — a curated look at the meals, ingredients, and coastal flavors that make Chesapeake cuisine one of the most distinctive in America.