It's a Southern Thing!
The story goes that the Mountain City Flour Mill began making confections so the excess flour wouldn't go to waste. Upon a salesman returned from a trip to West Virginia where he saw coalminers making rudimentary s'mores by melting marshmallows on graham crackers, the MoonPie was born. The Mountain City Flour Mill added a second cracker on top and coated the whole creation in chocolate. The snack became so popular that by the 1950's it was the only product produced by Chattanooga Bakery.
The MoonPie, invented in 1917, hails from my high school hometown of Chattanooga, TN. Now available in six flavors (chocolate, vanilla, banana, strawberry, orange and lemon) and in three sizes - single or double decker or mini-MoonPie - nationwide.
The story goes that the Mountain City Flour Mill began making confections so the excess flour wouldn't go to waste. Upon a salesman returned from a trip to West Virginia where he saw coalminers making rudimentary s'mores by melting marshmallows on graham crackers, the MoonPie was born. The Mountain City Flour Mill added a second cracker on top and coated the whole creation in chocolate. The snack became so popular that by the 1950's it was the only product produced by Chattanooga Bakery.
While I don't personally remember the slogan "It's a Southern Thing," at some point MoonPies and RC colas were known as a popular "dixie duo" and today are sold together.
Do y'all recollect having this combo?
Well, it's never too late to try it either - visit www.moonpie.com or the new MoonPie General Store on 48 North Market Street in Charleston, SC for your own "dixie duo."
Image Credits: www.MoonPie.com
Dickie...I never did THAT Dixie Duo but my sister and I used to put a small pack of planters peanuts in our Cocolas...at my grandfather's farm. Bliss.
ReplyDeleteDude, in spite of whateven nonsense you may have been seeing, Moon Pies are only chocolate, and maybe banana. While I haven't had an RC i years, the peanuts I recall. Worked better in chocolate cocolas.
ReplyDeleteThat should be a Trivial Pursuit question. And, I too have done the peanuts and soda combo.
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt that an "RC Cola and a Moon Pie" is, indeed, a Dixie duo. Being a generation older than you, I remember both from growing up in N.O. and in college in North Carolina. If I could only get an RC Cola in Chicago, I'd find the Moon Pie!
ReplyDeleteFirst, purchase the Dixie Trio -- RC, Moon Pie and Redhots (peanuts).
ReplyDeleteSecond, take a couple a swallers from the RC bottle.
Third, pour Redhots into RC bottle.
Fourth, leisurely drink "spiked" RC while savoring Moon Pie.
Fifth, thank God that you are Southern.
Moonpies are a southern delicacy!
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While going to the store to buy a Moon Pie is an option, the best way to acquire these yummy treats is by catching one at a Mardi Gras parade. Yes, the packaging may have beer all over it and the cake may be stale, but that's all part of the charm:)
ReplyDeleteEight years old in the Kalinas, somewhere past mid-century. Nickle bag o' Lance goobers in a 8 oz. nickle Coke. Thumb in Coke hole, gently shake 'em up. Spew half of Coke on Vanna, run gigglin', flirtin'.
ReplyDeleteBeats Monte Carlo F1.
ADG: I have some glass coke bottles in the fridge and wil be giving it a try.
ReplyDeleteToad: Hollar Back. I completely agree - personal favorite is the banana.
Allie: Which color pie piece would this be?
Michael: You can get your RC cola at www.moonpie.com in the store.
Death Bredon: Amazing recipe - can't wait to give this a try.
Brittany: I'll give it a look - thanks for the kind words.
DCMuller: Throw me something mister! BTW: we caught an entire box of mini-pies this year and they were delicious. You missed out.
Anon: great. story. period.
Well of course it would have to be either pink or green! Also, wanted to let you know that I just got off the phone with the Elizabeth Turner Collection. They have gotten too big to custom paint orders anymore but, the owner, Meredith, directed me to her store front which does accept these requests. It's called M's Canvas House and the site is www.mscanvashouse.com
ReplyDeleteI remember the comic Kudzu in the funny papers. Every so often, someone off the page would yeall Moon Pie he would be hit in the head with a flying Moon Pie. It is a Southern Thing! DW
ReplyDeleteAh, moon pies! Having lived for a brief time in Chattanooga (close to the Chattanooga Bakery, to boot), I put them in my wedding welcome bags and they were a hit!
ReplyDeleteBanana and chocoloate are the best! Strawberry and orange look disgusting. Where do they sell moonpies in DC?
ReplyDeleteAnon: You can get them by the box at the Kalorama/Adams Morgan Harris Teeter, among other places.
ReplyDelete"RC & a Moon Pie' is also a great vignette by the late, great Lewis Grizzard!
ReplyDelete