North Carolina barbecue can be split into two halves – in the east, they use the whole hog, while in the west, also known as Lexington-style barbecue, smokes only the pork shoulder. Eastern barbecue is usually chopped with a vinegar-and-spices-based sauce, while Lexington-style is typically used for sandwiches with a tomato-based sauce.

This is probably the oldest type of American barbecue, and the wood used for it is often hickory or oak.

A staple of Southern fried food in the United States, hushpuppies are an extremely popular snack consisting of deep-fried cornmeal batter. The batter is sometimes enriched by the addition of onions, garlic, corn, and peppers. Regarding the origins of the dish, there are as many theories about it as there are recipes for the hushpuppies.

One of the most popular theories states that hunters and fishermen would feed the fried cornmeal to their dogs and command them to "hush, puppies", so the dogs would not disturb their prey. Another, similar theory states that Confederate soldiers would also feed it to their dogs so that the enemy soldiers wouldn't hear the dogs' barking. 

Along with Banana Split, sundae is one of the most served ice cream-based desserts in the United States of America. A sundae is ice cream topped with a sauce or syrup, typically served in a bowl. The most popular varieties of sundae are chocolate caramel, butterscotch, and strawberry.

Cherries, dairy cream, and nuts are the most common additions to the popular treat. Food historians still argue about the origin of the ice cream sundae, but there are three theories which remain the most popular. The first one says it was created in Illinois, where the law prohibited the selling of soda water on a Sunday. 

Banana split is a classic dessert consisting of a lengthwise-cut banana topped with scoops of strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate ice cream. Typical garnishes include nuts, fruits, whipped cream, and a cherry on top. The dessert is traditionally served in a long dish called a boat.

It was invented in 1904 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania by David Strickler, who wanted to make something "different" for a college student who had one day entered the pharmacy where he worked as an apprentice. The pharmacies often featured a soda fountain where customers could indulge in a soda or a frozen treat for just a few cents. 

One of the quintessential summer desserts, peach cobbler is a deep-dish fruit pie with a fragrant peach filling covered with a thick biscuit dough crust. This luscious dessert was invented by early American settlers in the 19th century, and was named after its rough appearance, as the pie looks cobbled together.

Peach cobbler is best enjoyed warm and goes amazingly well with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. To honor this popular dessert, National Peach Cobbler Day is celebrated annually on April 13. There are also numerous summer peach festivals such as the Annual Louisiana Peach Festival in Ruston which became famous for entering the Guinness World Records in June 2015 by making the world's biggest peach cobbler.