12 Foods Virginians Crave The Second They Leave Virginia
Moving away from Virginia means leaving behind more than just familiar landscapes and friendly neighbors. Food becomes your strongest connection to home, and certain flavors can transport you right back to the Commonwealth.
Virginia’s culinary identity runs deep, from centuries-old ham traditions to quirky local favorites that simply don’t exist anywhere else.
Because of that, it is not a surprise that so many Virginians carve their culinary classics the moment they leave their beloved state.
1. Smithfield Country Ham
Nothing compares to the paper-thin slices of genuine Smithfield ham that melt on your tongue with centuries of tradition.
Virginia law strictly defines this dry-salted, smoked delicacy, requiring the curing process to happen within Smithfield’s town limits.
I remember my grandmother serving it on warm biscuits with a dab of red-pepper jelly every Christmas morning.
Unfortunately, Smithfield Foods discontinued their “Genuine Smithfield Ham” line in 2024, making authentic versions a precious piece of culinary history.
Edwards Virginia Smokehouse still carries the torch, offering classic Virginia country ham online for homesick Virginians.
2. Virginia Peanuts
Extra-large Virginia-type peanuts from the Tidewater and Southside regions pack a crunch that triggers instant nostalgia.
These aren’t your average ballpark nuts – they’re plump, perfectly roasted treasures that defined childhood road trips and holiday gatherings.
Hubs Peanuts, founded in 1954 in Sedley, remains the gold standard. Their distinctive red cans filled with salted or chocolate-coated varieties transport you straight back to Virginia convenience stores and gift shops.
Virginia Diner in Wakefield and Whitley’s also carry these iconic nuts, but nothing beats grabbing them fresh from The Hubs Vine market in Franklin.
3. Route 11 Potato Chips
Small-batch kettle cooking in Mount Jackson since the 1990s produces chips with an unmistakable crunch and quirky Virginia personality. Flavors like Dill Pickle, BBQ, and Chesapeake Crab showcase local tastes you won’t find on national shelves.
Every Virginia picnic, brewery taproom, and casual gathering features these distinctive bags. The company’s commitment to quality over quantity means each chip delivers maximum flavor and satisfying texture that mass-produced alternatives simply cannot match.
Their factory store in Mount Jackson offers the full experience, though online ordering helps satisfy cravings from anywhere in the country.
4. Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs
Steamed hard crabs dusted with Old Bay seasoning and seasonal soft-shells fried to perfection define summer in Tidewater, Virginia. Crab feasts on weathered docks with paper-covered tables create memories that last lifetimes.
Last summer, I spent hours cracking shells with my cousins while watching boats drift across the Chesapeake. The ritual of communal eating, messy fingers, and patient shell-picking builds connections stronger than any fancy restaurant experience.
Unfortunately, blue crab populations fluctuate dramatically, with 2025 surveys showing concerning dips from previous years, making these delicacies even more precious to homesick Virginians.
5. Virginia Oysters
Eight distinct oyster regions across Virginia create unique “merroir” – the aquatic equivalent of wine’s terroir.
Sweet, buttery Rappahannock River bivalves contrast beautifully with briny Seaside varieties, offering flavor profiles impossible to replicate elsewhere.
Raw bars throughout the Commonwealth flight oysters by region, letting diners taste Virginia’s diverse waterways in single sittings.
Rappahannock Oyster Co., founded in 1899 and revived by descendants in the early 2000s, continues leading this delicious tradition with locations like their Richmond restaurant.
Following the Virginia Oyster Trail becomes a pilgrimage for food lovers, connecting geography with gastronomy in ways that create lasting appreciation for the state’s maritime heritage.
6. Brunswick Stew
Thick, tomato-based hunters’ stew traditionally made with game meat represents Virginia’s Brunswick County heritage dating back to 1828.
Modern versions typically feature chicken and pork, but maintain the hearty, soul-warming character that defines comfort food.
Church fundraisers and firehouse events ladle out steaming quarts that bring communities together during fall festivals.
The aroma alone triggers memories of Friday night football games and harvest celebrations throughout rural Virginia.
Mrs. Fearnow’s canned Brunswick Stew, born in Mechanicsville, provides convenient pantry solutions for homesick Virginians craving authentic flavors without the hours of slow cooking required for scratch versions.
7. Cream of Peanut Soup
Colonial Williamsburg’s rich, velvety peanut soup creates flavors found nowhere else in America. King’s Arms Tavern and other Historic Area restaurants serve this unique dish that transforms tourist curiosity into local obsession.
Every Virginia school field trip includes tasting this unusual soup, creating shared memories that bind generations together.
The combination of peanuts, cream, and traditional seasonings produces comfort food that tastes like childhood adventures.
Colonial Williamsburg’s widely circulated recipe featuring onions, celery, stock, peanut butter, and cream allows homesick Virginians to recreate these distinctive flavors in kitchens far from the Historic Triangle.
8. Peanut Pie
Virginia’s answer to pecan pie substitutes salted peanuts for pecans, creating salty-sweet dessert perfection that anchors diner cases and holiday tables statewide.
This regional specialty showcases Virginia’s peanut heritage in unexpected, delicious ways.
The Virginia Diner’s benchmark peanut pie ships nationally, spreading Commonwealth flavors to homesick Virginians everywhere.
Rich, gooey filling studded with crunchy peanuts creates texture combinations that satisfy both sweet tooth and nostalgic cravings.
Unlike pecan pie’s sometimes overwhelming sweetness, peanut pie balances flavors beautifully, making it approachable for diverse palates while maintaining a distinctly Virginia character that cannot be replicated with substitutions.
9. Ham Biscuits
Tender yeast rolls stuffed with razor-thin country ham appear at every Virginia wedding, tailgate, and holiday gathering. These two-bite wonders pack maximum flavor into minimal space, representing Virginia hospitality at its finest.
My wedding reception featured platters of ham biscuits that disappeared faster than expensive hors d’oeuvres, proving simple perfection beats fancy complications every time.
Guests still mention those biscuits years later, showing their lasting impression power.
Ukrop’s White House Rolls provide the ideal foundation, while Edwards Smokehouse supplies premium ham for homesick Virginians recreating these salty-buttery memory triggers in distant kitchens.
10. Ukrop’s White House Rolls
Soft, flour-dusted yeast rolls created by Richmond’s beloved Ukrop’s grocery chain became Virginia potluck essentials. These pillowy foundations for ham biscuits earned devoted followings that persist long after the original stores closed.
Every Richmond area gathering featured distinctive green Ukrop’s bags filled with these rolls, creating shared experiences across economic and social lines. Many Virginians swear no other commercial roll achieves the same tender texture and subtle flavor.
Kroger now distributes these rolls nationally, while Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods offers direct shipping, ensuring homesick Virginians can access these comfort food staples regardless of geographic distance from the Commonwealth.
11. Bodo’s Bagels
Charlottesville’s legendary bagel shop has served University of Virginia students and locals since 1988, creating New York-style water bagels fresh throughout each day. Lightning-fast service and absurdly affordable prices make Bodo’s a Charlottesville institution.
During my UVA years, Bodo’s egg-and-cheese on everything bagels fueled countless study sessions and cured numerous weekend recoveries.
The specific taste of their herbed cream cheese and perfectly chewy bagels creates sensory memories impossible to replicate elsewhere.
Three Charlottesville locations maintain consistent quality and efficiency that amazes first-time visitors while satisfying regulars who measure other bagel shops against Bodo’s uncompromising standards.
12. Virginia Apple Cider Donuts
Hot, sugar-dusted cider donuts from hilltop orchards define Virginia autumns, with Carter Mountain’s versions creating statewide obsessions each harvest season. Warm dozens purchased from bakery windows disappear before reaching parking lots.
Leaf-peeping drives to Carter Mountain always ended with bags of these aromatic treats, creating perfect combinations of scenic beauty and seasonal flavors.
The view over Charlottesville paired with fresh donuts represents October in Virginia better than any postcard.
Carter Mountain Orchard’s bakery window becomes pilgrimage destination during harvest season, drawing families who return annually to maintain traditions built around these simple, perfect seasonal treats that capture Virginia’s agricultural heritage.