13-05-2025
Georgia now has official state stew, bread
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (WSAV) — Georgia officially has a state stew and a state bread!
House Bill 233 was signed into law Monday that marked Brunswick stew as the official state stew. The stew is a Georgia classic, made with meat, tomatoes and fresh vegetables.
According to the bill, a plaque on an old iron pot in Brunswick declares the first Brunswick stew was made in it on July 2, 1898, on 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 grown, ground, and made into cornmeal at historic mills like Prater's Mill, Berry College Mill, and Ogeechee River Mill and modern mills like Southeastern Mills and Logan Turnpike Mill,' the bill said. 'Cornmeal is then sold in stores and served in eating establishments throughout the state, and cornbread is enjoyed by young and old at home and in 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:
HB-233-1Download
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