In Winston-Salem, food is an art form steeped in history and creativity. The city’s Moravian roots are alive in its culinary scene, from spiced cookies to hearty chicken pies, but this is just the beginning.

Award-winning chefs reinterpret Southern classics with flair, earning James Beard nods and national acclaim. Follow your tastebuds down our BBQ Trail to sample authentic ‘cue that rivals any in the state, crafted with a dash of local pride, or dive into the city’s signature staples: Texas Pete hot sauce and Krispy Kreme doughnuts, both born here.

Patio dining and sidewalk dining options abound year-round, allowing guests to enjoy meals al fresco in the city's pleasant climate. The craft beer scene is thriving, with establishments such as Foothills Brewing and Incendiary Brewing Company offering locally crafted beers while award-winning distilleries pay homage to the city's moonshine-soaked past.

Of course, to fully understand the city's unique food scene, you have to go back to our beginning, 1766. That’s when a group of German-speaking migrants (the Moravians) first settled here, bringing several rich culinary traditions with them. They were doing farm-to-table long before it was trendy, using only fresh, seasonal ingredients from their gardens. They also created a number of dishes now synonymous with Winston-Salem, including famed Moravian sugar cake and Moravian cookies, still freshly baked throughout the city today. (You’ll find plenty of spots to sample along our Moravian Culinary Trail.)

Today, the city’s culinary scene is a confluence of Moravian traditions, Southern cooking, and new-school creativity, giving us a flavor that’s distinctly our own.

This story was compiled and written by our Media and Public Relations team to promote story ideas for travel writers, bloggers, influencers, and content creators.

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