We at the Local Palate love working with artisans and vendors across the South. Not only do we get to share the stories behind these skilled makers, but we have the joy of experiencing many of their products first-hand. (Hey, you have to know about it to write about it.) Whether we’re snacking, entertaining friends, or cheffing it up in the kitchen, these are the products we reach for time and time again.
“Whatever Rhonda Cammon is pouring, I’m drinking. Her super-refreshing mixers are so easy to mix and match with our favorite spirits—and this combo of rose, pear, and pink peppercorns is just the right balance of soft and spicy.”
“My go-to entertaining trick is to batch a large, effervescent punch in a big crystal punch bowl right before my guests arrive. It's both decorative and easy to serve. Perfectly Cordial's Tropical Sour is the perfect balance of citrus, sugar, and spice, so all I have to do is add a little lemonade and prosecco for a crowd-pleasing refreshment.”
“I always go savory over sweet, but these benne wafers hit all the right toasty, nutty notes to temper their brown-buttered sweetness. Crispy and bite-sized, they’re addictively snackable and go great with a cup of coffee.”
Hannah Lee Leidy, Digital Editor
Bar-B-Q Smokehouse Crackers
“My go to Marketplace snack has quickly become the Bar-B-Q Smokehouse Cracker's. They sell them by the bag, but I all too often go for the party tub. The crackers are flavorful enough to eat alone but big enough to pile with pimento cheese or spinach dip. They're the ideal snack to sit out when I have guests.”
“Growing up, cheese straws were synonymous with visits to my grandmother's house in Lexington, Kentucky. I'd walk into her kitchen and immediately be overwhelmed with the scent of warm cheddar, crumbly cheesy goodness awaiting me on her 1970s-style laminate countertop. Today, any time I can get my hands on cheese straws it reminds me of these visits and I've been known to eat a whole box in one sitting.”
“I’ve been on a greek yogurt and granola kick for breakfast recently and found Apis Mercantile Southern Wildflower Honey adds the perfect, floral sweetness! Plus, I love the look and feel of their packaging!”
Amanda Fitzgerald, Director of Sales and Marketing
Holy Smoke Wildflower Honey
“Holy Smoke’s Hickory Smoked Wildflower Honey has become a staple in my house. Try drizzling it over a warm buttered croissant. It’s life changing!”
Angelique DeClercq, Art Director
Terra Dolce Farms Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
“I had the opportunity to visit Terra Dolce Farms on a trip to Georgia to walk through their olive grove and see their press operation before taking home some of their olive oil. It makes an ingredient all the more special when you can see where it comes from and the care that's put into it, and that's a rare experience for olive oil––in the US at least!”
