Tennessee to add ‘hot slaw’ as official state food
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — It’s official, hot slaw will now be considered a state food in Tennessee.
A bill making the vinegary and mustardy dish the first official state food got its final approval on Thursday, Feb. 22. Hot slaw will be joining the ranks of other official state symbols, such as the tomato as the state fruit and the raccoon as the state wild animal.
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“Tennessee is blessed with many unique stories involving food and beverages, we have a task to keep those historical memories alive for the future,” the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Kevin Raper (R-Cleveland) said during committee Thursday as he asked his colleagues to help “preserve history.”
What is ‘hot slaw’?
According to Raper, hot slaw is a bit of a spicier alternative to coleslaw that can be added onto hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken sandwiches or even pinto beans. The “hot” part of hot slaw refers to the peppers added into the dish, rather than the temperature.
Its origins can be traced back to the Star Vue Drive-In theatre, where in 1955, Raper said the drive-in became the first to serve the dish. Today, it can be found in nearly every single grocery store in Cleveland and at some restaurants in the area.
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The city is also home to an annual hot slaw festival in which locals compete to see who can create a recipe closest to the original concoction. Raper’s related bill designating Cleveland as the hot slaw capital of Tennessee was also passed on Thursday.
During committee, Raper said he would have no problem with someone else backing more additions to the list of official state foods, such as Memphis barbeque or Nashville hot chicken.
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