Local New Year's Food Serves Up Luck And Flavor

The black eyed peas are a New Year's Day tradition but why

New Year's Day is approaching and your entire year's success relies on what you eat during January 1st. But don't worry, several local restaurants are preparing the traditional dish to make your 2026 a lucky year. So how did this start and more importantly, where you can find the best black-eyed peas this New Year's Day?

The tradition of eating black-eyed peas for luck is generally believed to date back to the Civil War. The dull looking pea crops were used as food for livestock and later as a food staple for poor people in the South. Because of this lowly reputation, the Union Army troops of General Sherman ignored the fields of black-eyed peas while destroying or stealing other crops. During the harsh winter, the Confederate soldiers survived on the remaining black-eyed peas, promoting this humble and nourishing legume into a symbol of fortune and prosperity in the American South.

However the tradition started, over the past 100-plus years Southerners have added items to the pot that represent good luck and fortune. The "New Year's Meal" is now the standard across the south and has spread throughout the lands. Here are the "add-on" you can have with this lucky meal:

Cornbread - a true southerner would never have peas without this but it represents "gold" in your future
Collards or Greens - represents the paper money you will obtain during the next 365 days
Stewed Tomatoes - represent wealth and health for the year
Bacon / Pork Belly - because a southern adds this to as many side dishes as possible

There are so many different New Year recipes for the classic black-eyed pea feast. The thing you have to remember is you should eat at least 365 of the small peas to have good luck the entire year. So you can plan peas for lunch, dinner and even breakfast that day.

Restaurants with Traditional New Year’s Day Dinners

Flora-Bama Lounge

Take a dip in the Gulf at high noon for the Polar Bear Dip, and those who brave the water will get a free draft beer and a free New Year's lunch of ham, black-eyed peas, greens, and cornbread.

Bleu’s Burger in Gulf Shores

Bleu’s Burger will offer a "Good Luck Meal" with peas, greens, cornbread, and meatloaf for $ 11 plus tax, or just the peas, greens, and cornbread for $6 plus tax. These are dine-in specials; a to-go surcharge will apply to takeout orders.

Doc’s Seafood Shack - Canal Road

New Year's Day Special - Two Pork Chops (fried or grilled) with black-eyed peas and greens for $16.99.

The Gulf Restaurant

The Gulf is offering its monthly chef specials, which usually commence on the first of each month. On New Year’s Day, they offer two chef-crafted dishes to start the year with exceptional flavor. For those seeking greens, beans, and other options, our Fresh Catch Fish of the Day dish is a great choice. As a token of our New Year’s wishes, you’ll always receive a side of freshly prepared green vegetables.

Restaurants open on New Year’s Day, serving from their regular menus.