Food preferences and cooking styles can vary from region, state, and even city. While North Carolina is known for typical southern cuisine like biscuits and gravy, collard greens, tomatoes with mayo, fried chicken, and of course mac n' cheese as a 'vegetable'; there are certain dishes that solely belong to the great Tar Heel State. Here are twelve.
1. Eggs and Liver Mush
Liver Mush is a beloved North Carolina food. We like to serve it with eggs or eat it as a sandwich. We even have a Liver Mush festival.
2. Cheerwine and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
Combine two North Carolina classics for pure, sweet magic!
3. BBQ, Slaw, and Hushpuppies
Sure, the whole country tries to make BBQ like NC, but nothing compares to having it here. Most of us prefer to skip the bun and eat it straight off the plate.
4. Fried Green Tomatoes and Pimento Cheese
Super southern plus super southern equals a diabolical combination.
5. Well....pimento cheese and a lot of things
Cornbread, omelets, grits, crackers, sandwiches...here, everything can use a scoop of pimento cheese.
6. Appalachian Kilt Lettuce, pinto beans, cornbread
Kilt, or killed lettuce, is an Appalachian tradition. Hot lettuce, tossed with vinegar, bacons, and sometimes onions (like pictured above ) is best served in the Spring with pinto beans and cornbread.
7. Cheerwine, barbecue sauce, and chicken
Leave it to North Carolinians to combine their favorite, sweet soft drink, with some tangy BBQ sauce, and chicken for a standout dinner. Get the recipe from Communal Skillet here.
8. Pepsi, lance crackers, peanut pie
This recipe is apparently so NC top secret, I couldn't even find an image for it. But you can get a killer recipe from Our State here.
9. Clam juice and clam chowder
Forget New England Style, here we prefer our clam chowder Hatteras Style.
10. Texas Pete and Eggs
In North Carolina, we add the Winston-Salem born Texas Pete to almost anything. Even fries, especially sweet potato fries. Pictured above is a scrumptious breakfast from the Landmark Diner in Charlotte.
11. Hot dog or burger with coleslaw, chili and mustard
You can't go wrong with a traditional 'Carolina Style' burger or hot dog. I like to spruce mine up with cheese.
12. Cheerwine Float
Root beer floats are boring. We prefer ours with Cheerwine, and of course, from Cookout.
Well, now I'm starving. What are your favorite classic Carolina combos? Tell us in the comments.
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