8 Food Dishes That Are Absolute Symbols of Virginia

Oysters

If you didn’t already know, Virginia ranks as the fourth-largest producer of marine products in the nation. Oysters are a quintessential delicacy in the Commonwealth. The oysters in Virginia are a beautiful symphony of flavors and range from creamy, and buttery to briny, and sweet. Pair it with some local wine and the oysters will just go down sweet and easy is the popular recommendation.

The Rappahannock Oyster Company in Richmond is a local favorite for delicious oysters. Hank’s Oyster Bar, in the heart of Old Town, Alexandria is also a great place for your oyster fix.

Virginia Barbeque

They say the best things in life take time and this is especially true when it comes to Virginia’s barbeque. The Virginia Barbeque uses the Powhatan technique of slow-cooking meat over smoldering coal. While European seasonings such as salt and vinegar lend themselves well to quite a few barbeque recipes in the state, African slaves are credited with bringing the more potent and complex flavors to Virginia’s BBQ.

You will find that every area has its own take on the BBQ. In the tidewater area, a blend of tangy vinegar and tomato mustard is what lends that unique tang to the BBQ. Central Virginia uses a Worcestershire sauce while the Shenandoah Valley uses a vinegar and herb-based sauce. In Northern Virginia, on the other hand, a sweet tomato-based sauce is what gives the BBQ its incredible depth of flavor. There are at least 20 spots in Virginia where you can get a taste of the state’s best barbeque.

Blue Crabs

Virginia’s culinary scene, we already told you is deeply rooted in its abundant seafood offerings. The state is bound by some 630,000 acres of water and nearly 50 commercially valuable species are harvested from these water sources. Seafood is, therefore, a staple in the state’s cuisine. Blue Crabs found in the coastal towns along the Eastern Shore and the Chesapeake Bay are a favorite in the state. Locals love to treat themselves to these unique-tasting versatile sweet meat crabs. If you have a penchant for seafood, the Sea Boil Crab House, Lowry’s Crab Shack, Quarterdeck in Arlington, and the Captain Pells Fairfax Crabhouse are among the best restaurants in the state to satisfy your crab cravings.

Country Ham Biscuits

Ham is one of Virginia’s best-kept culinary treasures. Smithfield Ham in Virginia is so iconic, it has gained the state a reputation as the ‘ham capital of the world’. Virginia’s Country Ham Biscuits are a delectable rendition of this tradition. This culinary masterpiece pairs light, fluffy buttermilk biscuits with savory, salt-cured country ham.

Considered a culinary essential, these ham biscuits hold a special place in the hearts of Virginians. No potluck, picnic, family gathering, or holiday celebration is deemed truly complete without the presence of a tray adorned with these perfectly crispy and warmly inviting ham biscuits.

Mountain Trout

Celebrating Virginia’s bounty of seafood is yet another delicacy, the trout. Think applewood smoked trout, trout amandine, drizzled over with butter, almonds, and lemon juice, or crunchy cornmeal-crusted trouts. Each plate of this skillfully seasoned fish will leave you craving more!

Brunswick Stew

Perhaps the most well-known of Virginia’s iconic dishes is the Brunswick Stew. The Brunswick Stew can probably be considered the state’s soul food- it’s comforting and delicious! The stew combines meat and vegetables in a huge cast iron cauldron which helps infuse a beautiful flavor into the stock. Original recipes used wild games such as squirrels and rabbits to make this hearty stew. The residents of Virginia have, however, over the years perfected the art of pairing chicken and pork that has been laboriously smoked for many hours to create their own hyper-local version of this dish.

Fried Pies

An exploration of Virginian fare would be incomplete without trying one of the state’s fried Pies. ‘The Shack’ in Staunton is a much-loved local haunt for fried Pies in Virginia, although these handheld delicacies can easily be found in local bakeries all over town. The restaurant’s sinfully good ‘Apple Bourbon Sorghum Caramel Fry Pie’, made with locally sourced apples and served with a warm thyme custard is the scrumptious signature treat that you cannot miss when you are in Virginia.

Peanut Soup and Peanut Pie

We already told you Virginia’s peanuts are top quality; extra large, and extra crunchy! The Peanut is also an ingredient that takes on many forms in the culinary renditions of the state. Virginia’s rich, and creamy peanut soup is one such dish that is immensely gratifying. But if you prefer something sweeter, Virginia’s Peanut Pie, encasing a sweet, salty nutty filling in a rich, buttery crust is quite a scrumptious delight too.