According to the New York Times, grape salad was originally served by a Minnesota heiress who claimed it was always part of her family's holiday buffet. It's not clear how this unique cold salad came to be a hallmark of entertaining in the South, but for at least the last 50 years, you would be hard-pressed to find a potluck, holiday, church supper, or special occasion without a big bowl of grape salad front and center.