A State-by-State Guide to the Most Iconic Foods in America

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West Virginia: Pepperoni Rolls

West Virginia’s most iconic food, the pepperoni roll, is a nod to the state’s coal mining heritage and Italian immigrant population. In the 1920s, coal miners in north-central West Virginia needed a convenient, hearty lunch they could take into the mines, and that’s when the pepperoni roll was born. The concept is brilliantly simple: soft, slightly sweet white bread dough is rolled around sticks or slices of pepperoni and baked, so the fats from the pepperoni melt into the bread, creating a flavorful, portable snack. It didn’t require refrigeration, stayed good for a while, and could be eaten with one hand – perfect for miners. The first pepperoni rolls are credited to Italian immigrant baker Giuseppe “Joseph” Argiro of Country Club Bakery in Fairmont, WV, around 1927. From there, they spread in popularity. Today, nearly every bakery and convenience store in West Virginia sells pepperoni rolls, each with their own little variations – some add cheese or tomato sauce, but the classic is just pepperoni and bread. Bite into one and you get a lovely mix of soft bread with a core of spicy cured pepperoni; some versions have the pepperoni cut into bits throughout, others have a single log of pepperoni. They’re commonly enjoyed at room temperature, but many love them warmed. West Virginians are fiercely proud of this humble food, to the point that attempts to sell pepperoni rolls in other states have even sparked regional debates. More than just a snack, the pepperoni roll represents West Virginia’s mix of Appalachian and immigrant roots, and it remains a beloved, no-frills taste of home that you’ll find at fairs, tailgates, and family gatherings across the Mountain State.