Food
Appalachian Herbal Infused Butters and Oils
Appalachian locals have long had a reputation for being thrifty and industrious -- and for good reason. Although the region is home to a wide variety of native plants and wildlife, the rocky soil and unpredictable seasons can make farming and gardening challenging. Determined to stay, people in these mountains learned to make do with what they had. They truly lived off the land, using as many native herbs and plants as they could.
The most common deviled eggs that you find at most Southern Appalachian picnic tables is the classic, best portrayed by Betty Crocker, a source many Southern cooks still use today.
Just try to pick one!
Kentucky might be most famous for three things: Daniel Boone, the Kentucky Derby and bourbon. We set out to find the best Kentucky bourbon restaurant in the state. Guess what? We couldn’t! There are simply too many high-quality establishments to choose one over the other.
Deviled eggs made into a Southern tradition
Rarely will you encounter a Southern Appalachian family reunion, potluck, church function or family-style meal that doesn’t include deviled eggs. Alongside cornbread, pea salad and fried chicken, a plate of deviled eggs would be conspicuous in its absence. The dish is simple: freshly cut and seasoned hard-boiled eggs with yolks mixed with mayonnaise, mustard, salt, pepper and paprika, although it can contain any number of surprising ingredients.
“Arsh potatoes” is what you might hear an old-timer in the Appalachians refer to when talking about Irish, or white, potatoes. Arsh potatoes are different from sweet potatoes, which also are quite fondly eaten in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.
Roots of Ancestry
Copper River Grill is fast becoming a staple on the restaurant scene running all over the mountains of northwestern South Carolina. Founded in 2005 in Seneca, SC, the eatery pegs itself as the “Last Frontier.” They use only super high-quality ingredients and provide a causal atmosphere and a menu with pretty reasonable prices.
Fun and excitement in a cultured setting
This warmly accommodating homestead offers rest and refuge to travelers or a merry place for friends to rendezvous for a weekend. But it is also an exciting destination in its own right. Its many perks and special events have made the Mark Addy an unusually exciting place to lodge. Drawing on a rich tradition of hospitality that has been refined over generations, the inn goes several steps beyond simply elegant rooming.
Appalachian settlers either got their first taste of popcorn from their Native American neighbors or, more likely, they brought it with them from the east, where their ancestors first learned about the food from the first Indians they encountered on that long-ago first Thanksgiving.