BRUNSWICK, Ga. () — Georgia officially has a state stew and a state bread!
This past Monday, House Bill 233 was enacted, designating Brunswick stew as the official state stew. This traditional Georgian favorite is composed of meat, tomatoes, and a variety of fresh vegetables.
The bill mentions a plaque on an antique iron pot in Brunswick, which claims the first-ever Brunswick stew was cooked in it on July 2, 1898, at nearby St. Simons Island.
“Contrary to claims by other states, Georgia, and specifically Brunswick, Georgia, is the birthplace of Brunswick stew,” the bill said.
Georgians know that cornbread often goes hand in hand with Brunswick stew, and the state decided it would stay that way.
HB 233 also designated cornbread as Georgia’s official state bread.
“Corn is cultivated, milled into cornmeal at historic locations like Prater’s Mill, Berry College Mill, and Ogeechee River Mill, as well as at contemporary mills such as Southeastern Mills and Logan Turnpike Mill,” the bill stated. “Cornmeal is subsequently retailed in shops and served in dining places across Georgia, with cornbread being a favorite among both young and old in homes and restaurants.”
Cornbread enjoys a singular stature in Georgia history and culture that is rivaled only by its undeniable appeal as a versatile and satisfying food
It also designated the fourth Friday in November as “National Sugarcane Syrup Day” in Georgia.
Legislators said that making it the day after Thanksgiving is particularly fitting, “as it is not only a time when families gather and celebrate together, but also a time when some say sugarcane is at its sweetest in Georgia.”
Read the full bill here:
