You’re Not A True Georgian Until You’ve Tried Brunswick Stew, The State’s Most Famous Dish

Every state has its own culinary claim to fame. You know what we're talking about, right? It's the dish that when you hear the state's name you immediately associate it with. For New York, it might be cheesecake or pizza. For Florida, it might be Key Lime Pie or crab claws. But what about Georgia? What dish would you consider to be the state's most famous dish that only true Georgians would associate with? According to a recent article by Insider, the answer is quite simple: Brunswick Stew. Not only is this dish a menu-staple for many local Georgian restaurants, but it also had a deeply-rooted history within the state that makes it one-of-a-kind.

Ahh, Brunswick Stew—the quickest way to start a fistfight between a Virginian and a Georgian, right?

While the origins of Brunswick Stew are a highly debated topic, Georgians know deep down that this famed stew was not invented in Virginia, but in fact, was invented in the sleepy coastal town of Brunswick, Georgia.

They know this claim to fame to be true so-much-so that they erected a 25-gallon iron pot monument in Brunswick that states the first Brunswick stew was cooked there back on July 2, 1898.

For those who are unfamiliar with what this stew is, picture a bubbling pot of pulled meat, usually pork or chicken, plus corn, baby lima beans, okra, hot sauce, and barbecue sauce, which comes together to form a thick, smokey, tomato-based stew.

While it’s known that the stew had traditional Southern roots no matter which state it was invented in, Georgians have adopted this stew as a state dish over the years.

There are many different ways to make this stew, and some states have even adopted their own versions—like North Carolina or Kentucky.

But if you’re from Georgia, then you know what real Brunswick Stew tastes like because after all, we did invent it here, right?

If you want authentic Brunswick Stew straight from the source, we recommend heading over to Brunswick, Georgia.

To find where Brunswick is in Georgia and to see how far it is from you, click here to open the map.

So, have you ever had Brunswick Stew before? Is there a restaurant in Georgia that you think makes the best? Make sure to share with us in the comments section! Or if you think you have the best tip to making authentic Brunswick Stew at home, we'd love to hear from you!