The Volunteer State has quite a bit to brag about when it comes to food ? the sheer length of the state ensures tremendous geographic diversity among its cuisine. From the barbecue and soul food of the western part of the state to the down-home cooking of the Hill Country, Tennessee has a rich food history with Native American, African American, and Western European influence. Get ready to take a tasty tour of Tennessee's most famous foods, spanning from the Mighty Mississippi to the Appalachian Mountains.
Moon Pies
Photo by Meredith Food Studio
Invented by the Chattanooga Baking Company in 1917. The story goes that a Kentucky coal miner asked the company's traveling salesman for a snack "as big as the moon," and the bakery obliged with what's now known as a MoonPie. It's a simple combination of marshmallow and graham cracker dipped in chocolate for an out-of-this-world treat.
Ramps
Photo by Shanda
Nope, those aren’t scallions. Ramps (also called wild leeks) are a species of wild onion native to North America that are particularly abundant in Appalachia, where they grow wild for a short season during the spring. They’re famous for their pungent flavor and strong odor that makes garlic smell mild in comparison. It’s not uncommon for mountain communities to have festivals and celebrations centered around ramp foraging.
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