Country Hams

[Guest Pachanga22]

Well finally heading to TN tomorrow and staying in the Crossville area. Going to be looking at property to buy but am also looking for a good place to get a country ham to bring back for myself a couple of friends. Any one in that area have an idea of the best place to find one and best brand if necessary. Going to be in the area for a week and will be moving around so let me know what you think. Also if you know of someone with some property that they would like to sell let me know.

Thanks,

Scott

[Guest db99wj]

Don't know about East TN and the local guys, but I grew up on, my dad owned a corner grocery store for years, Burgers Country Ham, out of Hollywood, AR.

Man, I haven't had some good country ham in years, might have to pick some up...and eggs...and....biscuits...

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Country ham is mostly great all over the state. You shouldn't have any problem finding

that.

[E4 No More]

Country ham is mostly great all over the state. You shouldn't have any problem finding

that.

What he said. ^^^

[JR2ATN]

If you're going through Nashville, Rice's in Mt. Juliet has long had a reputation for outstanding country hams.

Rices Country Hams

[enfield]

Stop at the nearest Piggly Wiggly and get some Clifty Farm or Junior Johnson ham. Bring your snow shovel if you're going to move to Crossville.

[Guest BEARMAN]

Clifty Farms, in Paris, TN. is one of the premier country ham makers in the south.

You can order direct too, if you can't find 'em in and around Crossville.

Cracker Barrel resturant might carry them @ exit #317 off I-40.

www.cliftyfarm.com

Welcome to Tennessee, BTW

[JAB]

Not sure how far this way you will be coming, but the IMO the best country ham available today comes from a business housed in a small, cinderblock building on HWY 411 in Madisonville called "Benton's Smoky Mountain Country Hams". The place looks very unassuming and the folks there are just a bunch of country folks but my understanding is that their products get used by chefs all over the country, including the likes of Emeril Lagasse. Clifty Farms (mentioned above) is sold in many grocery stores around here and it is some good stuff but, IMO, it can't touch Benton's.

Benton's cure and age the hams - usually for 9-10 months but some are aged longer, with some availaible aged for more than a year. They also have some of the best smoked bacon I have ever tasted as well as some of the best smoked breakfast sausage. In fact, a few years ago the owner learned how to make prosciutto to the standards of the Italian makers.

The good news is that if you can't make it to Madisonville, they will ship some of their products (well, the ham and bacon, anyway.) This is their website:

https://bentonshams.com/order/index.php

And this is an article, with video, that the Knoxville News-Sentinel did on Benton's recently. You'll see the very unassuming building - along with their faded sign - at the first of the video:

Videos: Knowsy Knoxville: Benton's Country Hams - Knoxville, TN | Knoxville News Sentinel

I probably sound like I work for them or something but I have absolutely no connection with them other than enjoying their products. If you get some of their ham (and it is delicious - especially fried on a biscuit with some red eye gravy), I'd recommend you try the bacon, too. My tastebuds have trouble deciding which is better - the ham or the bacon!

Edited June 18, 2010 by JAB

[Shug]

If your near Madisonville there is a place on Hwy411 that makes them on site. it's call Benton's Country Hams. Here is a link

https://bentonshams.com/order/index.php

[Shug]

2 minute's too late

[Guest BEARMAN]

Better late...than never, Shug!

[Guest Bluemax]

Everything already posted about Bentons is absolutely true. Do yourself a favor and p/u some of his smoked bacon as well. If you have a cooler he will even cut some of the best ribeyes for you that you have ever ate

[Volzfan]

Just buy one of each mentioned and then you tell us who you think is the best!

[Guest Pachanga22]

Stop at the nearest Piggly Wiggly and get some Clifty Farm or Junior Johnson ham. Bring your snow shovel if you're going to move to Crossville.

Snow there can't be half as bad as it is in Wisconsin.

Looks Like we might be headed to Benton's might as well get the best while I am here. We have had Clifty Farms before and was very happy with them also. Just can't ever find them up north

[Jasongar8]

You can find country ham in most grocery stores around TN. We have always ate Clifty Farms and they are good.