RALEIGH — A time-honored North Carolina culinary tradition is hitting restaurant menus across the state this month, featuring 11 participating restaurants from the mountains to the coast—including two popular spots in Wilmington.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) announced Wednesday that Country Ham Restaurant Week will run Oct. 15–25. The 10-day event pairs creative regional chefs with legendary country ham producers to showcase salt-cured, slow-aged pork beyond the traditional breakfast biscuit.
The statewide celebration coincides with the return of the N.C. State Fair Country Ham Competition in Raleigh, connecting traditional curers and farmers with modern culinary techniques.
Local Coastal Highlights
Southeastern North Carolina diners will have two featured locations participating in the event:
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Cast Iron Kitchen (Wilmington): Chef Josh Petty pairs with Sugar Grove Country Hams to present a country ham “prosciutto” and bone marrow board, featuring country ham fig jam, red-eye tomato chutney, pickles, local salami, and crusty bread.
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Voyce Bistro (Wilmington): Chef Keith Rhodes pairs with Lady Edison Pork to serve a sweet corn carbonara featuring country ham, tomatoes, and a spring onion crumble.
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Beaufort Grocery Co. (Beaufort): Down the coast, Chef Wendy Park pairs with Broadbent’s Country Hams for dishes including Welsh rarebit with country ham and tomato, chicken saltimbocca, and a Carolina Benedict.
“Country ham is one of those foods that immediately connects you to North Carolina traditions and time-honored curing processes that brings together families and communities,” said N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Country Ham Restaurant Week is a great opportunity to celebrate that history while seeing how a new generation of chefs is finding creative ways to put country ham on the plate.”
Return to the State Fair
The restaurant week pairs directly with the 2026 N.C. State Fair, where the State Fair Country Ham Competition returns on Thursday, Oct. 15, after a 27-year absence. Judging will take place in Dorton Arena, accompanied by live curing and cooking demonstrations in Dorton Arena and Heritage Circle throughout the week.
Event Info: Country Ham Restaurant Week runs Oct. 15–25. A full guide to participating statewide restaurants, featured dishes, and the official downloadable Country Ham Trail map is available through the NCDA&CS Got to Be NC program online here.
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