Can You Guess The Most Iconic South Carolina Dish(es)?
When you think of quintessential South Carolina foods what is the first thing that comes to your mind? I’m honestly not sure there is a truly SC dish. But I did grow up in Charlotte so perhaps I’m not the best to answer this question. I’d probably lean towards something like shrimp and grits. In other states, there are things like Key Lime Pie (Florida), Jambalaya (Louisiana), and Crab Cakes (Maryland). But the most iconic South Carolina dish seems not as clear-cut to me. But the experts at Southern Living actually named three dishes among the South’s most iconic. And they are experts so I’ll take their word for it.
Southern Living editors recently created a list of “signature state recipes” for many of the southern states. This list included iconic dishes like Nashville Hot Chicken, the aforementioned Louisiana Jambalaya de Covington, and Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay Crab Cakes. They say that while it’s nearly impossible to choose favorite dishes these are the ones that “won over their hearts and taste buds”.
So what are South Carolina’s most iconic dishes? The first is South Carolina Bird Dogs. They describe bird dogs as a South Carolina Gamecock tailgate tradition. These are crispy fried chicken tenders served on toasted hotdog buns. If that’s not good enough they have bacon too. Ok, you have my attention. What I can’t wrap my head around? It’s chicken for gameday. My mom, a South Carolina alumnus, absolutely refuses to eat chicken on USC game day.
Next on the list is South Carolina Slaw. I enjoy a good coleslaw, and apparently, the South Carolina way to make it is vinegar-based instead of the more common mayo-based. I do prefer the vinegar actually! Just didn’t know this was a SC thing. Served with or on those bird dogs perhaps? This is shaping up to be a great tailgate. (Not that I would expect anything less).
And the final of the most iconic South Carolina dish? South Carolina Mustard Barbecue Sauce. Southern Living also included Alabama Barbecue Sauce (and oddly left out NC BBQ altogether). Sorry, I’m not a Mustard fan so I’ll skip out on this one. But you can find me attempting to make bird dogs and slaw this weekend for the big game!
Thanks to our friends at Southern Living for sharing their research with us you can read the full article and learn about other iconic state dishes here!
Here Are The 11 South Carolina Chefs That Are James Beard Semi Finalists For 2024
Best Chef: Southeast- Jacques Larson
Restaurant: The Obstinate Daughter
Location: Sullivan’s Island, SC
Located on Sullivan’s Island The Obstinate Daughter is a Southern restaurant influenced by French, Italian, and Spanish cuisine. The restaurant boasts a wood-fired oven, plancha, and island kitchen range. The menu highlights pizza, pasta, small plates, and a raw bar.
