Southern Food Heritage Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Southern Food

Southern Food Heritage Day is observed annually on October 11. The Southern Food & Beverage Museum honors the delectable and culturally significant cuisine of the Southern United States. The cuisine is a testament to the history and legacy of the United States and thus merits official recognition and celebration. Southern cuisine exemplifies the fundamental nature of the United States as it signifies the convergence of diverse individuals from various countries, each contributing their own distinctive recipes and ingredients to fashion an original gastronomic experience. Throughout history, fried chicken, preserved shrimp, and iced tea have been among the most beloved Southern dishes. In addition to gourmet fare, the day honors the racial and ethnic diversity of the United States.

The background of Southern Food Heritage Day

Southern Food Heritage Day honors the finest cuisine and refreshments of the American South. Historical regional cuisines of states generally south of the Mason-Dixon line separating Pennsylvania and Delaware from Maryland, extending west to southern Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas, and extending along the Ohio River, comprise the cuisine of the South in America. African, English, Scottish, Irish, German, French, and Native American cuisines have particularly influenced Southern cuisine.

The cuisine of the American South exemplifies a distinctive fusion of culinary traditions and cultures. Native Americans, the Spanish, the French, and the British all contributed dishes and recipes from their respective cultures to the evolution of Southern cuisine. Certain culinary techniques, including deep pit barbecuing, and food items including corn, tomatoes, and squash, were introduced by south-eastern Native American nations including the Choctaw, Seminole, and Caddo. Numerous culinary items that are composed of sugar, flour, milk, and eggs originated in Europe. Spices, black-eyed peas, okra, rice, eggplant, sesame seed, and sorghum, in addition to melons, are all of African descent.

Southern cuisine can be further classified into the following categories: “Soul food,” which is replete with greens and vegetables, rice, and legumes such as peanuts, is heavily influenced by African culinary traditions. In addition to dense stews, okra and collard greens are also considered soul food. Creole cuisine exhibits a distinct French influence, whereas Cajun cuisine is rooted in the gastronomic heritage of Canadian immigrants. Lowcountry cuisine is characterized by an abundance of seafood and grains, whereas Appalachian cuisine consists primarily of preserved meats and vegetables. Corn predominates in Southern cuisine due to the Native American influence.

5 Southern Food Facts That Will Astound You

Redeye gravy is prepared using coffee grounds and pan drippings.

The average ounce of Southern fried chicken breast contains over 400 calories.

Peanut butter is produced from fifty percent of the annual peanut harvest.

We have incorporated it into our diet for over 2,000 years.

Good fortune is said to befall black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day.

SOUTHERN FOOD HERITAGE DAY DATES

Year	Date	Day
2023	October 11	Wednesday
2024	October 11	Friday
2025	October 11	Saturday
2026	October 11	Sunday
2027	October 11	Monday