January 22, 2019 is National Southern Food Day. And darn it all if we can’t find a greeting card about it to send out to our nearest and dearest! But what we can do is fill you up with some good reads and some tasty food. Our writers have been exploring the South, delivering RealFoodTraveler.com readers with time-honored culinary treasures. We hope this article will inspire you to head south to experience it yourselves. And to get your palette primed, you’ll enjoy making these authentic Southern recipes. 

Prepare to lick your fingers. Lebanon, KY has 40-plus eateries, several of which serve up crispy Southern-style fried chicken.
Photo: Lebanon Tourist & Convention Commission.

Places to experience Southern food 

Pickled Shrimp from Old Village Post Inn.

Get to know the food of South Carolina’s Lowcountry in this article by Sandy Bornstein.

Find out what it’s like to get to know the foodie scene of a city that’s new to you, when you’re a chef! Listen to our podcast to find out.

There’s good food and good fun to be had at the annual Pensacola Foo Foo Festival. Writer Pam McKuen tells us what it’s like to go.

When you’re the oldest, continuously-inhabited city in the United States, settled by people from all over the world, you can bet the culinary seen is going to be varied. Find out how St. Augustine, Florida celebrates that culinary heritage.

Two of our writers are newcomers to North Carolina and are going hog wild discovering BBQ.

Speaking of North Carolina, did you know there’s a Trail devoted to a certain dessert? It’s the Surrey Sonker Trail and writer Debi Lander is hot on the trail.

It’s not all about the food. Authentic drink is part of National Southern Food Day. Take, for instance, a nice cold beer in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Pull up a chair with writer Leslie Long. While there, grab another glass, this time filled with mega milkshakes from the famous The Yard.

2018 may have been the official “Year of Kentucky Food,” but every day is a new opportunity to discover the different styles of food of each region in Kentucky. Find out where to eat in Kentucky to get it all.

Flow along the Mighty Mississippi to explore the iconic foods of Memphis in this article by Jessica Dixon.

Try your hand at Southern food over the campfire at Creekfire Motor Ranch in Georgia or take a quick drive into Savannah to let someone else do the cooking for you.

Southern Food to make at home

Ladle up a big bowl of Minorcan Clam Chowder, an authentic dish of St. Augustine, Florida. It uses the Datil Pepper, indigenous to the region. But don’t worry, getting the spice is just a mouse-click away.

Find out how they do Mardi Gras up in a delicious way when you go beggin’ for gumbo.

Don’t even think about going to a fast food joint when you can get and make the real deal, Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Make your own Gumbo for Mardi Gras with this authentic recipe! Photo by David Simpson.