Just a Virginian’s opinion on best bites. If you are in Northern Va towards DC, there’s plenty of amazing Korean, Indian, and Middle Eastern food. If you are in Richmond, go for the Thai, Vietnamese, and Jamaican food. If you are in Virginia Beach area, go for the seafood. If you’re in the mountains, stick to southern cuisine.
I live in Norfolk, Virginia, and three things Virginia is very good at are burgers, biscuits, and bread pudding. There are a lot of places that put lump crabmeat on burgers. It's something worth trying. Some of the best biscuits I ever had were from Bobo's fine chicken in Virginia Beach and Handsome Biscuit in Norfolk. Almost every local sit-down restaurant has bread pudding on the menu, and they are usually delicious. Also, while the wine is nice, the beer, cider, Rye Whiskey, and VB orange crushes are definitely worth trying. Also, I can confirm that Virginia has a thing with game meat, and there are alot of restaurants with things like rabbit, duck, gator, deer, and other unusual types of meat.
As someone who grew up in Virginia, I would add apple cider and apple cider doughnuts to the list. Peanuts are grown in the southern part of the state. Apples have always been a big crop in the northern part of the state, particularly on the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains. :)
For you wine lovers, a bit of wine history. Many Virginia wines trace their origins back to grapes brought to Virginia and cultivated by Thomas Jefferson. I encourage that, if you come to Virginia, take the time to visit some of our wineries. Also a visit to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home near Charlottesville, VA. While you are there, check out one of out oldest institutes of higher learning, the University of Virginia, founded by Jefferson.
As someone who lives in Southern Virginia, we consider Northern Virginia a whole separate state-lol. My part of the Commonwealth isn’t big on crab but the other items are common. Also- Northern Virginians do not drink sweet tea- so you have to ask for it in restaurants. Anything north of Charlottesville you need to ask for it.
Awesome insight for a visitor like me thats from the other side of the country. All the things youve recommended i looked up on Yelp near the hotel im staying at and a lot of places have promise. I wish i could try everything but im only here a few days. Thanks again!
Hey Wolter, as someone that grew up in Southern Virginia (Suffolk), we consider anything north of Richmond to be the north, Richmond is the dividing line, anything west in the mountains or south of Richmond is the south. Everything else in this video is pretty much right! Also, Smithfield pork and hams is very close to where i grew up, as well as Planters peanuts being right in downtown Suffolk, we even have an annual peanut festival at the end of September as Suffolk used to be the peanut capital of the world! I think georgia has now taken that title. It was great to see you do a video about Virginia! Also you really should visit Williamsburg and Jamestown, some of the earliest settlements of this continent, very cool places to see for history. Also, the barbecue that i grew up with was vinegar based barbecue, no barbecue sauce, put on a bun, like a sandwich, with cole slaw and Texas pete hot sauce on it. Delicious!
Native Virginian here. You did a pretty good job covering the state, although GA can have Brunswick Stew. lol As you move further away from the coast, I would say apple everything. Apples are pretty big here.
Rabbit pie? What? I never heard of that. Anyways we are the red headed step child of the south. We barely get mentioned with the south. 1 more thing, I’m from Virginia Beach which is southeastern Virginia & where your at in Alexandria are 2 completely different places. Northern Virginia & Southern Virginia are like 2 different states.
Mark, you were spot on the eats of Virginia. Harriet and I would add Chicken Fried Steak. We are newcomers to Virginia . Just been here two and half years. Next time you come we would love to have you come and stay , You and Jocelyn . Come and Tour with us. Again, Thank You for showcasing Virginia. All the best. 👍👍👍 Harriet, Jim and Yuki Richmond, Va.
I almost read the title wrong… Anyways, as a Texan who got displaced to northern Virginia for work (Herndon), I can tell you that it was yankee land up there. I get the impression from driving only as far as Blue Ridge Mountains that changes quickly when you leave the DC or northeast coastal area. Now I’m sorry, but I don’t feel like I’m in The South for real until I get below North Carolina/Tennessee.
The southern aspect of Virginia is anywhere from Richmond and lower or Anywhere in the piedmont region and west. Northern Virginia acts as its own distinct entity but you can still find traces of unique Virginian identity within northern Virginia regardless of its massive urbanization. In places such as Fredericksburg and Mount Vernon
I was born in Virginia and, I’ve actually lived all over the state. We lived in Fairfax County for 5 years and, it’s not the real Virginia at all. NOVA is just a vast suburb (with their own city/town centers) of Washington D.C. People from all over the USA and abroad are transferred in and out of there constantly. It keeps extending itself further west and south just to have enough housing for the masses of people who clog up I-66, the Beltway, and 1-95 on their daily commute. The sprawl has just about spread to Charlottesville but, not quite yet. Real South is below Richmond, traveling I-81 South towards Roanoke and beyond. Piedmont area such as Lynchburg traveling south and East from there. The difference is just too huge to consider NOVA a part of Virginia 😉
If everybody based North Carolina on the metropolitan areas of Raleigh and Charlotte we’d be considered northern lol idk why Virginians try to divide the state so much it’s still a southeastern state no matter what
"Eats of Virginia" "I'm in Alexandria." [*stares in Appalachian*] Good episode, but Northern Virginia hasn't been Virginia since the early 90s. They don't like us, and we like to ignore them. Travel down the piedmont and mountains and we'll be happy to have you.
Just a Virginian’s opinion on best bites. If you are in Northern Va towards DC, there’s plenty of amazing Korean, Indian, and Middle Eastern food. If you are in Richmond, go for the Thai, Vietnamese, and Jamaican food. If you are in Virginia Beach area, go for the seafood. If you’re in the mountains, stick to southern cuisine.
I live in Norfolk, Virginia, and three things Virginia is very good at are burgers, biscuits, and bread pudding. There are a lot of places that put lump crabmeat on burgers. It's something worth trying. Some of the best biscuits I ever had were from Bobo's fine chicken in Virginia Beach and Handsome Biscuit in Norfolk. Almost every local sit-down restaurant has bread pudding on the menu, and they are usually delicious. Also, while the wine is nice, the beer, cider, Rye Whiskey, and VB orange crushes are definitely worth trying. Also, I can confirm that Virginia has a thing with game meat, and there are alot of restaurants with things like rabbit, duck, gator, deer, and other unusual types of meat.
Fried crab deviled eggs are the most Southern thing i've ever heard of
Yummy!
As someone who grew up in Virginia, I would add apple cider and apple cider doughnuts to the list. Peanuts are grown in the southern part of the state. Apples have always been a big crop in the northern part of the state, particularly on the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains. :)
For you wine lovers, a bit of wine history. Many Virginia wines trace their origins back to grapes brought to Virginia and cultivated by Thomas Jefferson. I encourage that, if you come to Virginia, take the time to visit some of our wineries. Also a visit to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home near Charlottesville, VA. While you are there, check out one of out oldest institutes of higher learning, the University of Virginia, founded by Jefferson.
Yeah we have really good wines
As someone who lives in Southern Virginia, we consider Northern Virginia a whole separate state-lol. My part of the Commonwealth isn’t big on crab but the other items are common. Also- Northern Virginians do not drink sweet tea- so you have to ask for it in restaurants. Anything north of Charlottesville you need to ask for it.
We do that too in NJ except we've divided ourselves into three parts: North, South, and Central.😁
I'm from Warren County then moved to Rockingham County and sweet tea is still very normal.
I’m in Augusta County. This is 100% correct. We’re more Appalachian/Southern food exclusive.
North VA
VA coast (VA beach)
South VA confederate don't die we just go to battle fields
You mean anything south of Fredricksburg is where the south starts
Awesome insight for a visitor like me thats from the other side of the country. All the things youve recommended i looked up on Yelp near the hotel im staying at and a lot of places have promise. I wish i could try everything but im only here a few days. Thanks again!
Please do a restaurant tour of the Shenandoah Valley! Thank you for your hard work!
Thank you!!! Very nice!!!
Hey Wolter, as someone that grew up in Southern Virginia (Suffolk), we consider anything north of Richmond to be the north, Richmond is the dividing line, anything west in the mountains or south of Richmond is the south. Everything else in this video is pretty much right! Also, Smithfield pork and hams is very close to where i grew up, as well as Planters peanuts being right in downtown Suffolk, we even have an annual peanut festival at the end of September as Suffolk used to be the peanut capital of the world! I think georgia has now taken that title. It was great to see you do a video about Virginia! Also you really should visit Williamsburg and Jamestown, some of the earliest settlements of this continent, very cool places to see for history. Also, the barbecue that i grew up with was vinegar based barbecue, no barbecue sauce, put on a bun, like a sandwich, with cole slaw and Texas pete hot sauce on it. Delicious!
Smithfield got so bad once the Chinese bought it out smh
Native Virginian here. You did a pretty good job covering the state, although GA can have Brunswick Stew. lol As you move further away from the coast, I would say apple everything. Apples are pretty big here.
Yes, not big fan of Brunswick stew and I definitely think of it was non-Virginian.
Keep up the good work. Hope to see you here on the boat or kayak tour to see the wild horses, dolphins, eagles and pristine National Park beach.
Cheers!
That is fig jam in in the spoon in the picture of the ham biscuit. Figs grow profusely on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
Hi from VA 😇.
But the best peanut soup comes from the Virginia Diner in Wakefield, VA.
I gotta go!
Virginia diner is delicious!
Virginia Diner is fantastic
Hi Mark!
You're on my neighborhood! Welcome! Now I'm all hungry! 😋
Northern Virginia might as well be apart of DC.
For sure
Was looking for the NorVA hate - Hampton Roads kid
North VA DC with representation
Southern VA confederate
Can you do an Eats of Maryland video?
THIS . Compared to Virginia, MD is elite
Thanks Mark, this video just made me hungry 😋
Rabbit pie? What? I never heard of that. Anyways we are the red headed step child of the south. We barely get mentioned with the south. 1 more thing, I’m from Virginia Beach which is southeastern Virginia & where your at in Alexandria are 2 completely different places. Northern Virginia & Southern Virginia are like 2 different states.
Do "Eats of Québec"
Hint : Québec was one of Anthony Bourdain's favorite places.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Ramen oh ye
Peanut soup is way better than melted peanut butter
Sounded like a busy air space at DCA when you recorded this one.
And I had to stop a number of times filming because the planes were so loud
One thing I disagree with as a MD native . Get crab cakes and blue crab from Maryland only 🦀 .
Yummy!! But don't like seafood! It always sounds so good!!!
Mark, you were spot on the eats of Virginia. Harriet and I would add Chicken Fried Steak. We are newcomers to Virginia . Just been here two and half years. Next time you come we would love
to have you come and stay , You and Jocelyn . Come and Tour with us. Again, Thank You for showcasing Virginia. All the best. 👍👍👍 Harriet, Jim and Yuki Richmond, Va.
We need to go to Richmond sometime. When we do we will let you know.
Love you Wolter, but Nova is not accepted by the rest of VA.
I've noticed that :) hopefully will be in Charlottesville later this year to film Virginia Virginia
Fried crab deviled eggs, good lord!
They were so good (mark)
I almost read the title wrong…
Anyways, as a Texan who got displaced to northern Virginia for work (Herndon), I can tell you that it was yankee land up there. I get the impression from driving only as far as Blue Ridge Mountains that changes quickly when you leave the DC or northeast coastal area. Now I’m sorry, but I don’t feel like I’m in The South for real until I get below North Carolina/Tennessee.
The southern aspect of Virginia is anywhere from Richmond and lower or Anywhere in the piedmont region and west. Northern Virginia acts as its own distinct entity but you can still find traces of unique Virginian identity within northern Virginia regardless of its massive urbanization. In places such as Fredericksburg and Mount Vernon
It’s like texas the western part isn’t southern either only east texas
You do look like you like to eat. I don't eat pork.
I was born in Virginia and, I’ve actually lived all over the state. We lived in Fairfax County for 5 years and, it’s not the real Virginia at all. NOVA is just a vast suburb (with their own city/town centers) of Washington D.C. People from all over the USA and abroad are transferred in and out of there constantly.
It keeps extending itself further west and south just to have enough housing for the masses of people who clog up I-66, the Beltway, and 1-95 on their daily commute.
The sprawl has just about spread to Charlottesville but, not quite yet. Real South is below Richmond, traveling I-81 South towards Roanoke and beyond. Piedmont area such as Lynchburg traveling south and East from there.
The difference is just too huge to consider NOVA a part of Virginia 😉
If everybody based North Carolina on the metropolitan areas of Raleigh and Charlotte we’d be considered northern lol idk why Virginians try to divide the state so much it’s still a southeastern state no matter what
"Eats of Virginia"
"I'm in Alexandria."
[*stares in Appalachian*]
Good episode, but Northern Virginia hasn't been Virginia since the early 90s. They don't like us, and we like to ignore them. Travel down the piedmont and mountains and we'll be happy to have you.
Yep! Above Richmond isn't Virginia really
I completely understand. I need to do a non-NOVA version.
LOL!!! I have lived in VA for 60 years. Just stop.