13 favorite vittles in West Virginia

It’s no surprise that pepperoni rolls are the #1 food of West Virginians. It was created in Fairmont at Country Club Bakery, and the coal miners loved it. So do their families.

The rest of the 13 food and drinks that West Virginians love the most, according to Tammy Marie Rose’s article in Only In Your State, an online site:

2. Chili and Slaw Hot Dogs, which, like pepperoni rolls, originated in West Virginia.

3. Cornbread And Pinto Beans. Old West Virginia saying: “A bean without cornbread is like a kiss without a squeeze.”

4. Ramps, which make onions feel like sissies. Richwood bills itself as “The Ramp Capital of the World.”

5. Buttermilk Biscuits, a West Virginia breakfast tradition.

6. Morel mushrooms, also known as Molly Moochers.

7. Venison. Deer hunting is a big thing in West Virginia. So is eating the kill.

8. Spaghetti And Meatballs, particularly in Clarksburg where you can’t swing a spatula without hitting an Italian.

9. Mexican Cornbread, which is cornbread with a kick. Creamed corn, chiles, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese are in there somewhere.

10. Potato Cake, which is what my mother always made from leftover mashed potatoes.

11. Pizza, but only if it’s cooked in a cast iron skillet.

12. Milk, often raw milk if you’re a farmer. I had it for years on my Uncle Frank Loss’ farm in Mill Fall, and loved it! Warm and delicious. Before pasteurized milk became the thing to do.

13. Mountain Dew. Yahoo! But my childhood drink was Poya (“It’s good for ya!”), which looked a lot like the green Mountainer Dew and came in a very small bottle.