Counting the ballots…
Counting the ballots…
“My niece did her social studies fair project on this history of the pepperoni roll in WV and made it to state finals with it. There's no more iconic WV food!”
“Pepperoni rolls are eaten for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or as a snack - hot or cold. Every West Virginian has a mama or a grandma who makes the best pepperoni roll.”
“The italian coal miners created the pepperoni roll as a meal when working underground. It is a part of the culture and tradition of all West Virginians.”
“This is what gets me up in the mornings”
“All of these options are great, but beans and cornbread are what feels like home to me!”
West Virginia's ballot starts in a lunch bucket. The Pepperoni Roll was built for the mine shift, and the Hot Bologna Sandwich and Slaw Dog kept the same hours. Beans & Cornbread and Country Fried Steak with Sausage Gravy feed the rest of the day. Spring brings Ramps & Potatoes. Fall brings Apple Butter in copper kettles and Golden Delicious Apple Pie, from an apple bred on a Clay County farm. Buckwheat Cakes and Pawpaw Pudding are festival food. What West Virginia is famous for was built to survive a mine shift. So what is West Virginia's official state dish? Voting closes November 1, 2026.