Imagine the ideal summer. You’ve got plenty of time, plenty of money, and unlimited gas. You’ve decided to take a culinary tour of the South. What’s your goal? You’re going to sample the best each state has to offer. Here’s a breakdown of everything you’ll want to try.
Alabama
Alabama offers an impressive variety of foods. You and your travel partner could easily spend a week there, end each day stuffed to the gills, and still not exhaust all the possibilities. Still, it’s worth a try!
Quench Your Thirst
People rightly associate sweet tea with the South, but soda (coke) is where it’s at. Each state has its local favorites. Alabama is no exception. Be sure to taste:
- Grapico – Brightly colored grape soda
- RC – Mass produced but romanticized in the South
- Buffalo Rock Ginger Ale – A spicy ginger ale for true aficionados
Main Dishes You Can’t Miss
Have you really spent time in Alabama if you haven’t had the barbecue? If you’re in Northern Alabama, try the white sauce! This mayo and vinegar-based sauce is heavy on the black pepper and perfect with slow-smoked chicken. Head to central Alabama for a more traditional red sauce, or visit the southern part of the state for a spicy vinegar sauce.
Google will tell you the most popular places to go. But, one rule applies. When it comes to BBQ, the best spots are small, tucked away, and decidedly un-fancy. If you’re lucky enough to come upon a roadside stand or church parking lot BBQ, stop and buy a plate.
That said, there’s a world of amazing food in Alabama beyond barbecue. Are you going to the coast? Shellfish is where it’s at. Sample oysters, shrimp, crab claws, and other briney delicacies.
Finally, don’t leave the state without trying Conecuh sausage. Folks here put it in everything from BBQ sandwiches to scrambled eggs to beans to gumbo.
Special Sides And Appetizers
In 1987, Fannie Flagg singlehandedly put Alabama’s most popular side dish on the map with her book “Fried Green Tomatoes at The Whistle Stop Cafe”. Turns out, it wasn’t just a good book, but also a can’t-miss dish. You can also try fried pickles, boiled peanuts, fried okra, skillet cornbread, and pimiento cheese.
Save Room For Dessert
Dessert isn’t optional in Alabama. Certainly not when there’s lane cake, pecan pie, banana pudding, and caramel cake.
Something Truly Weird
Every state has at least one strange dish that people will insist you’ll love – if you just try it. In Alabama that would be the banana and mayo sandwich. Will you find it served up at a restaurant? Probably not, but feel free to make a couple in your hotel room!
Arkansas
Arkansas is a bit of a best-kept secret. It’s home to some of the most beautiful natural spaces in the country, and a diamond mine that’s open to the public. If it’s your next vacation destination, Arkansas is also the ideal place for a culinary tour.
Quench Your Thirst
If you’re looking for a soft drink in Arkansas, Grapette is a regional favorite. For something more adult, have a whisky-Sprite. You also won’t go wrong with an Arkansas Razorback. This drink with Rum, vodka, amaretto almond liqueur, and Kahlua coffee liqueur is named for the famous University of Arkansas mascot.
Main Dishes You Can’t Miss
You and your travel crew will need filling meals to enjoy the hiking, cycling, kayaking, and other outdoor sports that Arkansas has to offer. It’s time for the main dishes. Here are some staple dishes you’ll find in diners, cafes, and mom & pop restaurants:
- Fried catfish
- Ham with pinto beans
- Pho – Yes! Arkansas has a robust Vietnamese population
- Ham with purple-hulled peas
Special Sides And Appetizers
You’ve heard of biscuits with sausage gravy, but are you familiar with biscuits & chocolate gravy? You’ll find that on breakfast menus all across Arkansas. You’ll also want to try cornbread, fried potatoes, corn on the cob, peaches, sliced Arkansas tomatoes, watermelon, and cheese dip.
Save Room For Dessert
Don’t visit Arkansas without trying Possum Pie! No worries, there’s no actual possum involved. It’s a layered chocolate and cream cheese pie that’s served widely. You can also try hummingbird cake, raisin pie, and blackberry jam cake.
Something Truly Weird
When traveling, always connect with the locals. You’ll make meaningful connections and maybe something more – gay apps are a great way to start! Make friends in Arkansas, and you might get an invitation to someone’s home for the kind of traditional food you won’t find in restaurants. Here, that would be game meat. You may be given the opportunity to try:
- Fried or braised squirrel
- Grilled deer steaks with gravy
- Braised rabbit
- Deep-fried frog legs
- Roasted wild turkey
- Grilled duck breast with bacon, jalapeno, and cream cheese
Florida
Florida is a southern state with some very unique food traditions. While you’ll see some really common themes as you eat your way through the other states in this region, Florida breaks the mold. This can be largely attributed to its location and history. Study Florida foodways and you’ll find influences from Africa, Cuba, Spain, Greece, Jamaica, Minorca, and more. So, grab your bags and your appetite!
Quench Your Thirst
Mr. Q Cumber is a cucumber-flavored soda that is a regional favorite in many parts of the state. Although many people don’t think about cucumber as a soda flavor it is cool, and refreshing which makes it perfect for a hot day during the Florida summer.
Main Dishes You Can’t Miss
If you are ever in the mood for some of the most delicious sandwiches around, Florida is the perfect place for you to check out. Whether you are in the mood for some locally sourced fried fish, burgers, or a stack of thickly sliced deli meat. The many cultures that call Florida home have you covered
- Cuban Sandwiches
- Fried Grouper
- Frita Cubana
- Pan Con Minuta
Special Sides And Appetizers
Florida is often made to be the butt end of many jokes. However, there is no denying that this peninsula which is completely surrounded by oceans is home to some of the best seafood around. This is why we find that the best appetizers and sides you can get in Florida will always contain some of that locally sourced seafood.
- Stone Crab Claws
- Apalachicola Oysters
- Minorcan Clam Chowder
- Pink Shrimp
Save Room For Dessert
You can’t go down to Florida without having a delicious slice of Key lime pie. Key lime Pie is probably one of, if not the most iconic food to come from Florida. With all of the ingredients being locally sourced the key lime pie is one of the biggest reasons that many people choose to visit the state.
Something Truly Weird
Along with the delicious bites you can eat all across the state there are also bites that are both delicious and strange in Florida. Take the time to try some fried gator, among a few other interesting choices of delicious foods you can only get in the state of Florida.
- Tarpon Springs Greek Salad
- Conch Fritters
- Fried Gator Bites
Georgia
The state of Georgia seems to be the main focus when people think of the many tasty foods that come from the south. Most, if not all of the delicious foods that people associate with the south actually call this state their home. Let’s take a look at these tasty foods.
Quench Your Thirst
Georgia is known for its hot summers and the best way to cool off during a hot summer spell is with an ice-cold beverage. These regional drinks are some of the best and it’s no wonder they are so popular
- Coca-Cola: Although it’s not so regional anymore Georgia is the original place where this classic red-clad beverage was first invented. Some of the locals even claim that it just tastes better when it is made close to home.
- Tarragon Flavored Lemonade: Refreshing lemonade on a hot day makes as much sense as pouring milk over your cereal. It’s just something that many of us feel goes together. Many regions like to put their own twist on this tasty beverage. Some like to add mint, others basil, but in Georgia the herb of choice is tarragon. The slightly licorice-like flavor gives this delicious beverage a new level of flavor you may not have thought it needed.
Main Dishes You Can’t Miss
- Southern Fried Chicken: Nothing seems to scream south more than a delicious bucket of fried chicken with all of the fixings. Those in Georgia have truly mastered the art of creating fried foods and chicken is one of the most basic creations a person can ask for. So easy to make, and yet it’s so easy to completely mess it up. It’s the perfect dish to use when you want to see if a restaurant is worth eating at or not based on their ability to create a delicious home-cooked meal.
- Biscuits and Gravy: A delicious breakfast staple made with buttery homemade biscuits and sawmill gravy with lots of black pepper, and sometimes some breakfast sausage or bacon as well. It’s delicious and simple, just like what you would expect.
Special Sides And Appetizers
- Collared Greens: Collared greens are a delicious dish made from simmering tough and hardy collared greens in a salty mixture of broth, spices, and fat. It’s a delicious staple that many state residents enjoy to their heart’s content.
- Fried Green Tomatoes: Fried foods are a staple in the South and when you have an abundance of plant life and warm weather you also have an abundance of insects and other wildlife. This means that a lot of produce needs to be picked well before it is time to enjoy them and unfortunately many of these items will start to rot before they ripen. With the staple of fried foods being common and the need to eat unripe foods the fried green tomato was born.
Save Room For Dessert
Peach Pie: When many people think of Georgia their minds immediately go to the state fruit. Peaches are constantly growing in this state and it’s no wonder. The conditions for these fruits are perfect around here! The only thing better than a freshly picked peach from a Georgia orchard is a pie filled with them and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Banana Pudding: Georgia was one of the first states that had bananas commercially available year-round. This means that it’s not a surprise that they have perfected the art of a delicious banana pudding. Of course, this pudding is usually served warm with a fluffy meringue on top it is a delicious testament of the sweet flavor that is the banana.
Pecans Praline: Just like peaches the environment in Georgia is perfect for pecans as well. With such an abundance of them, there is only so much pie the locals can handle. Which is why they have taken to making this delicious candy. Smooth, chewy, buttery, when you are traveling through Georgia you will definitely want to pick up some of this delicious candy.
Something Truly Weird
- Pot Liquor: After collared greens are done cooking you’ll be left with a lot of liquid in the bottom of the pot. This is known as pot liquor and is packed with flavor. Some people like to dump it out but real fans know how delicious a sip of this can be.
- Salted Peanuts and Coke: This may not seem weird at first, but it’s when you are told that you are required to dump the peanuts right into the Coke bottle that gets people perplexed. The saltiness of the peanuts and the sweetness of the soda go together beautifully and create a crisp, sweet and salty taste sensation that many find to be irresistible.
Kentucky
When you think of Kentucky, you may envision men in pastel suits and women in ornate hats at the Derby, but there’s so much more when it comes to this state including the food!
Quench Your Thirst
Strawberry Lemonade
Ale-8-One: This is the regional soda of this state and is a commodity at almost every single brick-and-mortar store in the state. With a variety of flavors, virtually everyone in Kentucky enjoys this cold refreshing drink.
Main Dishes You Can’t Miss
Barbeque Mutton: One thing about Kentucky that many people don’t know is that the wool industry has laid down some heavy roots in this state. This means that there is no shortage of fleece, wool, and of course lots and lots of mutton. This meat is flavorful, delicious, and worth so much when it comes off the smoker.
Hot Brown: A simple and delicious open face sandwich made with bacon, turkey, and mornay sauce all of which are broiled until it is bubbly, hot and brown. The best way to enjoy this dish is with some slices of fresh tomato and a few mushrooms.
Special Sides And Appetizers
Beer Cheese: Tangy, delicious, and perfect with pretzels. Beer cheese is quite possibly one of the best appetizers you can ever look for
Spoon Bread: Butter, milk, eggs, cream. This delicious and decadent version of cornbread is a staple in the bluegrass regions of the state.
Save Room For Dessert
Apple Stack Cake: Like in many of the lower 48 states at one point the only affordable sweetener that was available to all was sorghum molasses. There is also no shortage of delicious dried apples which is how this delicious dessert came to be. Everyone has their own version of this cake and no two are alike. But we will say that whether you top it with some ice cream and caramel, or you eat it on its own the apple stack cake is always worth a stop.
Transparent Pie: So simple and oh so delicious, transparent pie is nothing more than some sugar, butter, cream, and vanilla that is baked in a pie shell. When sliced through you get a gooey middle topped by a crackly caramel-like topping.
Something Truly Weird
Tomato Pie: When most people think about a tomato pie they tend to think about pizza but this is not like that at all. A deep dish crust filled with juicy tomatoes and served with cheese, meats, and herbs. It’s a perfect refreshing dish to eat while traveling through this state.
Louisiana
If you want to make a statement during your culinary journey through the southern United states Louisiana is the perfect place for you to check out. With foods and cultures inspired by french, african, spanish, and native cuisines. If you can only visit one state in the south for the food Louisiana is the perfect place to go.
Quench Your Thirst
Abita Root Beer: Made with pure Louisiana cane sugar
Main Dishes You Can’t Miss
Po’Boy: Roast beef, Fried Shrimp, Oysters, or any other delicious meaty goodness piled high on a soft roll with lots of lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise. This delicious sandwich is one of the most iconic.
Gumbo: A delicious, flavorful stew consisting of a dark roux, chicken, shrimp, andouille sausage, celery, onions, bell peppers, okra, and of course lots of spices. Usually served over rice. This stew is considered to be the poster child of louisiana cuisine.
Jambalaya: A regional play on the Spanish paella, Spicy tomato flavored rice is cooked with peppers, onions, celery, andouille sausage, shrimp and served piping hot to those who wish to try it. This delicious dish is one of the best-known to come out of Louisiana.
Special Sides And Appetizers
Dirty Rice: A mixture of rice, finely chopped chicken livers, and spices.
Corn Maque Choux: A popular corn and bacon side dish.
Save Room For Dessert
Beignet: Fluffy pillows covered with powdered sugar and honey. Beignets are one of the best desserts in the world as they are so simple yet at the same time so easy to mess up. If you can make a perfect beignet that says a lot about your skills as a chef
Something Truly Weird
Cracklins: Crispy, deep fat fried, port fat. It’s quite possibly one of the most popular snacks ever made. Many people get a weird feeling about eating this snack but once they do they have a hard time stopping.
Mississippi
Head to the Magnolia state for some truly unforgettable grub.
Quench Your Thirst
The official drink of Mississippi is milk. If your tastes are bit more hedonistic, don’t worry! Try a Mississippi Punch instead.
Main Dishes You Can’t Miss
Try the pressed Po’ Boy! It’s made like the traditional sandwich, only pressed. Of course, Mississippi is all about the fish and seafood. You won’t find fresher shrimp, crab, or oysters. There’s also an abundance of catfish and walleye.
Special Sides And Appetizers
Delta Tamales: Simmered, not steamed, with a gritty corn meal texture. Delta Tamales are a tasty, spicy dish to try when you are driving through the state.
Save Room For Dessert
Mississippi mudpie: This is probably the most famous dish to ever come out of this state. A delicious, and disastrously messy amalgamation of pudding, ice cream, cookies, cake, whipped cream, chocolate sauce and so much more. This dish is loved by everyone regardless of age.
Something Truly Weird
Kool Ade Pickles: Just what is sounds like. Pickles brined in Kool Ade
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