Is This Really VA’s ‘Most Iconic Food’? The Food Network Says So

VIRGINIA — You may not agree, but the Food Network says the most iconic food in Virginia is peanut soup.

The network listed the foods each of the 50 states is known for in its 2024 “United Plates of America” report released earlier this year.

Here’s what the Food Network says about the dish that originated with enslaved Africans brought to the colony: “A mix of onion, celery, chicken stock and peanut butter lays the base for this hearty soup that was popular in Colonial Virginia. Its roots are African and was a popular dish among slaves who brought the crop over with them. You can get a taste of the infamous peanut soup at The Jefferson Restaurant in Williamsburg, the oldest family-owned eatery in the area that’s been serving patrons since 1956.”

The Food Network says its list is “packed with iconic local flavors that share its history and define its geography.” The list also includes the best place to find these foods.

If crab doesn’t suit your tastes, other iconic foods in the region include:

Maryland: Steamed Crabs

Delaware: Fries with Vinegar such as those served up at Thrasher's on the boardwalk

New Jersey: Disco Fries, billed as the state's answer to Canada’s poutine.

North Carolina: Lexington-Style Barbecue

Pennsylvania: Philly Cheesesteak

West Virginia: Pepperoni Rolls