Author: Dale Rutherford

Ask a visitor what Virginia food they’ve tried, and you might hear about ham and not much else. Virginians know the list runs a lot longer. Here are the foods worth sharing with the next out-of-state friend who visits. 1. Peanut Soup King’s Arms Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg lists peanut soup on its lunch menu…

If you’re thinking about letting Cracker Barrel do the cooking this year, a little planning can save you a headache. Here’s what Kentuckians should know before they order a Thanksgiving meal at Cracker Barrel. 1. Preorder Window You’ll preorder a Cracker Barrel Heat n’ Serve meal during a limited window, according to the holiday guide….

Walk up to a potluck table in Ohio, and the food can be a clue to which part of the state you’re in. Ohioans from different corners bring dishes that rarely travel far from home. Here are the dishes that can give away where the potluck is being held. 1. Cincinnati Chili Cincinnati chili is…

Dinner in Montana doesn’t always start at the grocery store. Some locals cook with what they hunt, pick or find, and a few dishes come with stories that go back generations. These are the things Montanans eat that surprise people from out of state. 1. Butte Pasties Butte pasties came to Montana with Cornish miners,…

If you’ve been to a Georgia family reunion, you could probably list the menu with your eyes closed. A few of those dishes have more history behind them than you’d think. Here are the foods that show up at every family reunion in Georgia, from the main course to dessert. 1. Brunswick Stew Georgia’s version…

Delaware may be small, but its food scene has many surprises. Locals grow up on dishes that visitors may never have heard of, let alone tried. Here are some local favorites worth tracking down. 1. Chicken and Slippery Dumplings Sussex County residents already claimed chicken and slippery dumplings as a regional specialty when The Washington…

Church homecoming is about the preaching. But a lot of people remember the food just as well. North Carolinians who grew up around those long tables often still have a dish they look for first. Here are the foods that make a homecoming spread feel complete. 1. Chicken and Pastry Chicken and pastry was the…

If a Golden Corral sits on your usual route, you might assume it’ll be there next month. But this year, you may want to check before you go. Here’s what’s known so far about Golden Corral closing more restaurants than usual this year, and what it could mean for your next visit. Reported Closures Reports…

Sugar cream pie is simple enough to fit on an index card, but Hoosiers can be picky about who makes it best. Ask around, and you’ll hear about a select number of diners worth the detour for a slice. Here’s where locals say sugar cream pie is worth the drive. 1. Nick’s Kitchen Gastro Obscura…