April 26, 2016
5 Famous Foods from the Tar Heel State
At The Preserve at Tidewater, we love many things about coastal North Carolina.
Beautiful beaches, plenty of opportunities to commune with nature, and a community of beautiful homes that are being built as we speak. There is, however, one more major perk to living in North Carolina that we can’t leave off our list: the food.
Below are five tasty delicacies that hail from the Tar Heel state. Read, eat, and enjoy!
Pork Barbecue
The secret to Eastern North Carolina barbecue (and yes, there’s a difference between Eastern and Western, but since The Preserve is located on the coast, we’re pledging our allegiance!) is two-fold. First, a vinegar-based sauce is used, and second, the “whole hog” is cooked together, so each tasty bite is a mixture of white and dark meat. For a true North Carolina delicacy, opt for a pulled pork sandwich. Your life will never be the same!
Oysters
Raw, steamed, or fried, there’s no wrong way to enjoy an oyster plucked fresh from the waters of the North Carolina coast. While delicious, oysters also serve another important purpose. They’re integral to the health of our oceans, thanks to their ability to filter 50 gallons of water a day and their natural tendency to join together, creating a seawall for shorelines. It just goes to show that it’s what’s on the inside that counts!
Sweet Potato Pie
A rich, spicy treat that is commonly found at the end of the holiday meal, the sweet potato pie was originally a staple of North Carolina fishermen’s diets. To help fuel these fishermen through long days of hauling fish, setting nets, and raking clams by eating whole pies first thing in the morning. Sweet potato was a favorite thanks to the extra dose of vitamins and minerals. Today it remains a favorite dish, with family recipes passed down through generations. It helps that North Carolina is the #1 producer of sweet potatoes in the United States, and produces more than 40% of the country’s sweet potatoes. No wonder we love sweet potato pie!
Cheerwine
Cheerwine, also known as the “Nectar of North Carolina,” is a burgundy-red soft drink, is flavored with cherries. Created in Salisbury, NC in 1917, it was formulated in the basement of L.D. Peeler’s grocery store. It can now be found in the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and California, but it will always be loved best in its home state.
Krispy Kreme
These delicious doughnuts can be found all across America, but they got their start in Winston-Salem. The first Krispy Kreme was founded by Vernon Rudolph in 1937, and they originally cost 25 cents for a dozen, which would be quite a deal today! True fans of these tasty treats know to keep an eye out for the iconic hot light. When it’s lit up, a fresh batch has just come out of the oven. The light is so popular that Krispy Kreme even developed an app that sends you a message when the light in your local shop has flickered on. Isn’t technology wonderful?
We hope this article didn’t make you too hungry! If your stomach is already growling, don’t worry. When you’re in North Carolina, a good meal, tasty dessert, and refreshing drink are never far away. Bon appétit!