(EDITOR'S NOTE: View From The Pugh is a podcast/journalism project from Chris Pugh. Connect with him here).
Pimento cheese: Is it a glorious Southern treasure or just orange goo with a cult following? Turns out, it’s a little bit of both.
Often called "the caviar of the South," pimento cheese is a tangy spread made from cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, and diced pimentos. While it's a Southern staple today, few realize it actually has Northern roots — first created in New York in the early 1900s as a “health food.” Once pimento peppers became widely available, Southern cooks turned this simple spread into an art form.
Today, pimento cheese is woven into the fabric of Southern culture. You’ll find it at weddings, tailgates, fancy brunches, and late-night fridge raids. Every family has their own "secret" recipe — usually involving something scandalous like cream cheese, jalapeños, or hot sauce.
From humble beginnings to culinary cult status, pimento cheese continues to surprise. Whether you prefer it slathered on a sandwich, spooned onto a cracker, or (gasp) churned into ice cream, one thing’s clear: pimento cheese isn’t just food. It’s a feeling — a spicy, cheesy, mayonnaise-laden feeling we’re all happy to embrace.
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