Florida gets a bad rap when it comes to being authentically "Southern." Slander, I say. Sure, there may be a lot of transplants from Long Island and other distant regions concentrated in certain parts, but for proof of the state’s essential Southerness we need look no further than Florida’s long, proud barbecue tradition. 

Outdoor concerts, afternoons at the beach, summer picnics—raise the bar on these thirst-inducing occasions with the new W&P Cocktail Kit.

Those who remember them from childhood can attest: Nothing symbolizes summer better than a metal porch glider. Once referred to by many as Southerners “divans," gliders had their heyday in the 1940s and 50s, when air conditioning was as scarce as time for porch sitting was ample

In the past decade, Austin, Texas, has become the unlikely vodka capital of the South. First came Tito’s Handmade Vodka, the first spirit legally distilled in Texas. It took off in the early 2000s and is a fixture in bars across the country today. Next came small-batch successors like Dripping Springs Vodka, made in the nearby town of Dripping Springs, and SAVVY Vodka, a Texas-only brand distilled with spring water from founder Chad Auler’s family ranch.

When I was growing up there were always fresh cut flowers around our house. My dad was the green thumb, nurturing dozens of varieties of roses and camellias that my mom stuck in bud vases or shared with neighbors. Springtime peonies were always a favorite—not exactly an original claim, I know, but the big, dramatic blooms are impossible to resist. They’re also especially hard to come by because of their short blooming season. In the South, it’s usually no more than a few weeks between late-April to early-May before the heat zaps them. Which is why I was excited to stumble on The Peony Patch a small, family-owned farm in Greensboro, North Carolina, that offers fresh-cut, door-to-door deliveries

The influence of Southern mothers is indisputable. Not only have they given us our recipes, our manners, and our love of entertaining, but above all they've handed down words to live by. In honor of Mother’s Day, we asked several prominent Southerners: What is the best piece of advice your mother ever gave you

In the coastal South, crab dip is a classic summertime treat. Fresh crab, blended with mayonnaise, cheese, and spices, brings the flavor of the sea to picnics and cocktail parties alike. Grocery-store crab dip rarely amounts to much, but a new product from Charleston, South Carolina’s Big T Coastal Provisions, a husband-and-wife operation run by Tony “Big T” and Tracy Blanchard, gives the homemade stuff a run for its money. Rich, creamy, and packed with tender claw meat, the Blanchards’ crab dip, available in regular and jalapeño varieties, has spread to grocery stores all over the South in the five months since the couple launched it. We caught up with Tracy earlier this week to ask her a few questions.

These days, many people consider bourbon the South’s spirit of choice. But long before Southerners were sipping corn whiskey, they enjoyed glasses of locally made fruit brandy. During the colonial and antebellum years, planters routinely set aside acres for orchards—not just to fill pies, but to fill their copper pot stills, too. As late as 1872, there were more than 1,800 active brandy distilleries in the Southern states, the majority in Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina.

For the design-minded, High Point Market is the ultimate adrenaline rush. Around every corner there’s a new vendor, product, or trend waiting to be discovered.  The star-studded cast of tastemakers—from Suzanne Kasler to Beth Collier—scattered throughout the showrooms and after-parties make the already high-style event something akin to Hollywood for furniture fanatics. (I even got my picture taken riding a magic carpet with Aladdin). This year, I was particularly excited to find these standout products, highlighted below.

These are busy times for Edward Lee, longtime head chef at Louisville’s 610 Magnolia. Three months ago, he opened MilkWood, an Asian-inflected bar and restaurant, to big crowds and rave reviews. Three days ago, he and his wife welcomed a new baby girl. Next Monday, after the Derby, Lee will be headed to New York City to attend the James Beard Awards as one of the finalists in the Best Chef: Southeast category.