When I first came to Morgantown, I found the pepperoni rolls to be quite peculiar.

They are sold in bakeries, but you can also find them in convenience stores and gas stations.

When I first saw them, I thought, "What's so special about a few pepperonis stuffed in bread?"

However, after living a bit in West Virginia, I realized that this is not something to overlook. It's almost soul food.

The history of pepperoni rolls is connected to the coal mines of West Virginia.

It is said to have started with Italian immigrant Giuseppe Argiro, who created them so that coal miners could easily eat while working by putting pepperoni inside bread.

They were easy to eat even while going down into the mines, and the meat grease soaked into the bread, making it tasty and filling.

It's similar to how simple lunches eaten at old factories or construction sites in Korea have become local specialties over time.

There are many places in Morgantown that sell pepperoni rolls.

Chico's Bakery on Beechurst Avenue is well-known for Julia's Pepperoni Rolls, which also offers cheese-filled options.

At Phoenix Bakery in South Park, you can enjoy freshly baked bread, and at Almost Heaven Kettle Corn's Pepperoni Roll Bar, you can choose from plain to provolone and pepper jack cheese varieties.

At first, they may seem like nothing special. But when you try one warm, the story changes. The salty pepperoni grease seeps into the inside of the bread, making you want to keep reaching for more. They pair well with coffee and make for a simple lunch.

Before you know it, you'll find yourself picking up a pepperoni roll at a gas station.

On Saturday mornings, the Morgantown Farmers Market is also worth a visit.

In warm seasons, it takes place at the Market Place Pavilion downtown, where you can find locally produced vegetables, eggs, cheese, jams, and maple syrup.

When I go to places like this, I tend to pay close attention to honey. West Virginia has a lot of Appalachian forests and wildflowers, so the locally produced honey is quite a treat. Unlike just picking up a jar of honey that looks the same at the store, there's a joy in buying it while hearing stories about who made it and where.

If you ask the farmer, "Where did you grow this?" they will explain for quite a while.

It's similar to asking an elderly lady at a Korean market where she grew her peppers. It gives you a sense of community.

Morgantown is a college town, so the craft beer culture is also prominent.

On days when there are WVU games, the downtown atmosphere changes completely, and many people enjoy watching the game while drinking beer at breweries or tap houses.

There's also the fun of finding ales or stouts that reflect the local character.

Ultimately, Morgantown's food culture is a bit different from fancy gourmet dining.

There are pepperoni rolls that immigrants used to eat while working in the coal mines, honey and produce from the Appalachian mountains, all mixed with the culture of WVU.

Each element is simple, but when you understand them, you can see the history of this town.

If you've just moved here, don't just visit the famous tourist spots; start with the farmers market on Saturday morning. After buying a pepperoni roll and bringing home a jar of honey, you'll gradually start to understand.

Ah, this is how the people of Morgantown live. Once you start to feel that, this unfamiliar mountain college town will slowly start to look more like your own neighborhood.