We're never exactly sure, geographically, where the cut off officially divides the North from the South here in the United States of America. There's a variety of different things that people might argue are the defining differentials between the two. Maybe it's the weather, maybe it's an accent, maybe it's the city noises versus the vast agriculture, but if there's one thing southerner's are certain about, it's their food. This is not to suggest any type of weight implication, but merely a statement to the pride of a southerner's cookbook and love for tradition. And although each region of our country is unified by our stars and stripes, the pledge of allegiance cannot account for a cultural speciality in food.
The U.S. as a whole is comprised of such a unique population of individuals, a country with such a strong sense of dignity in its union, but also in its differences. In most other countries around the world you are able to associate a certain appearance of a person; skin, hair, clothes, shoes, etc. with the country that they originate from. Along with the type of person, normally a type of food or drink can be associated with a particular country. For example, Italy and pasta, Mexico and tacos, Germany and beer... you get the point. What's great about the USA is that we have it all. The divide comes within our own country, more specifically in our tastes in food. Being a frequent traveler and eager leaner of different lifestyles, I would consider myself fond of the food culture in the U.S. That being said, if you are wondering what foods you will most likely never find in the North, educate yourself on the list below before you find yourself craving a southern meal in New York City.
Before I begin, I must give deserving glory to the Mecca of all grocery stores in the South: the Piggly Wiggly. As a small chain, and with locations limited to areas closely surrounding Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, “the Pig” provides your southern grandma with all she needs to make Sunday night's supper. With a motto like “Local is Community,” Piggly Wiggly could not be more dedicated to the South.
- Grits – Ask any breakfast diner up North for a side of these with your meal and you'll get a blank, confused stare... “What's a 'grit'?”
- Boiled peanuts – You might run into a few small side-of-the-road vendors on those backroads, but you'll almost never see these in your local northern gas stations or supermarkets.
- Sweet tea – There's just something about the sugar in the tea. My South Carolina born and raised aunt adds a little lemon with a touch of honey, a southern speciality.
- Cobbler – You're probably wondering what the real definition of a cobbler is anyways. In a northerner's terms, it's pie, but for southerners, it's cobbler. Whether you put in peaches, blueberries, apples, or any type of fruit, what sets a cobbler apart from any ordinary pie is the deep dish top and bottom crust, and the gooey, dough-y filling.
- Okra (southern fried) – This unique pod-like vegetable isn't commonly favorable. Yet with a touch of the South, and a deep fryer, this green becomes more of a snack only found in comfort food restaurants.
