Was in town for work and this was a constant recommendation from the locals…read more They have any cheese you can think of made fresh in house. You can even visit the processing plant across the street and watch it being made. They have such a variety of everything but especially cheeses. They also carry lots of wine and goodies that would be great on a charcuterie board. The staff was very helpful and the store was clean. If definitely visit again.

Ashe County Cheese is located in West Jefferson, NC. It was established back in 1930 by Kraft…read moreCorporation, making it the oldest cheese plant in the state. It is the only commercial plant left in the state. Ashe County Cheese produces 30,000 to 40,000 pounds of cheese a week. The Blue Ridge Mountains were chosen for the facility by Kraft as there was a surplus of milk in the region from all the dairy farming. The lush high-altitude pastures were great for dairy cattle. Kraft bought up many smaller dairy farms and made a more modern, centralized facility so the cheese could be distributed and sold outside of the mountains. West Jefferson was the chosen location to collect the milk within a 50-mile radius. Ashe County Cheese Factory has a viewing room where you can watch cheese being made. This was the highlight of my visit as I got to watch most of the cheese curd process from separating the whey and curds to draining the whey to mixing and agitating to testing the batch to adding the salt. I left at that point to allow others to view, as the viewing room was on the small side. The retail shop is across the street, and you can buy all types of cheese, including the curds. I bought some butter cheese and white cheddar trims besides the curds. They have insulated bags to buy with ice packs so you can keep it cool and refreeze the ice packs. It stayed cold for the three days I needed it to, with time in a hot car and some time in a refrigerator. Besides cheese, they sold fudge, jams, crackers, candies and wine. I found great postcards too. If West Jefferson is too far to travel to buy some squeaky cheese curds, you can order online from their website.

What an adorable and friendly local spot for farm fresh cheese. This family owned business is…read morelocated in Linville Falls area right off the 221. The staff are so friendly and knowledgeable about the family run business. All the cheese products and meat available are in the multiple refrigerators, plus there are tons of other snacks, goodies, a gift ideas all around the store. There is plenty of gravel parking spots. We absolutely loved there cheddar which was mild and easy to pair, but we think the Gouda is our favorite. We got some bagel chips to go with our garlic spread to snack on. Definitely worth coming if you are in the area.

This is our must stop on the way to Sugar Mountain... we always get a hunk of the best buttercup…read morecheese! The soft cheese spreads are also on the list: pineapple almond, cranberry and pumpkin spice. These nice ladies are also carrying local meats we discovered delicious chorizo this year! A very cute place which you must try!

Good quality specialty food items. Small place was hoping…read morefor more options. Service was good.

They have fantastic flavored sausages. All sort of varieties. Cozy quirky store with nick-nacks…read more Excellent customer service and very friendly staff. We tried them at The Game Keeper restaurant and had visit the origin to purchase some.

Beautiful little gem of a shop where you're able to test most every honey related product there…read morebefore buying. From honey, to honey butter, and sauces. It's a quiet little shop that has a lot to offer. My favorites were the cranberry and vanilla creme! The kind woman working was very welcoming and informative of the different uses for some of the flavors we inquired about.

Originally I visited The Honey Hole with a friend from West Jefferson. Since then I have gone back…read moreseveral times, and my friend offered to purchase honey-related items for me when they are in the area as well. We are in love with the honey butters and also the honey flavors. The shop owner is so helpful and personable. She even offered to gift wrap the honey butters as I was getting them early for Christmas, and she also packaged them for traveling for me - such thoughtful customer service! Over the past 40-50 years West Jefferson has certainly changed, but this small town has so much to offer visitors to see and do! Don't miss a visit to the Honey Hole and West Jefferson!

Nicholas was such a sweetheart. The young man helped me grab things off the top shelf. He is so…read moremuch more helpful than my lazy ass husband. He is such a charming young man and I hope he gets the recognition he deserves.

This is a nice-looking store, like most Fresh Markets. The selection was, as I often find, a bit…read morepuzzling. I came seeking the little protein shakes that are common in health food stores. Finding them neither with the vegetables or with the alternative milks or with the coffee-based mixed drinks, I assumed they didn't have any of this sort of item, only to find a small freestanding cooler that did have some, but not quite the price or selection that I was hoping after all that searching. Similarly, some elements of the fruit and vegetable section didn't quite have everything I was hoping for. This store also had a longer wait in line than I would have expected despite three registers running. There were still some good quality food items to be had, but trying to shop comprehensively at Fresh Market often leaves me a bit frustrated.

My first impression was that this store must be new, particularly given the empty retail space…read morenearby. However, there are google reviews that predate this one by a year. This makes it less excusable that the store just didn't seem to be fully stocked. The produce section was a small corner of the store. Prepared foods was a much bigger entrant, as was the freezer section. The lack of fresh items seems contrary to the health food vibe. On the upside, you'll struggle to find a place that has more niche brands with vegan, gluten-free, and other specialty items. The local focus is also appreciated. On the downside, I was surprised how expensive it was, and that's with shopping the sale items and the $1 credit I apparently picked up by shopping at the Roanoke Earth Fare. Frankly, that one is better.

Earthfare is a place where they really care about the people, the food we eat, the products that we…read moreuse on/in our bodies. They have great quality produce and meats with great prices.

Every time we go into Watsons, it is a pleasurable experience. The ladies behind the counter are…read morevery friendly and helpful. They have some of the best wines in town on tap, and you can sit, talk, and enjoy the company of customers who come in during your stay. Their packaged food is very tasty, such as the olive oil and curry.

What a wonderful shop!! Great specialty products and friendly service!! We even had a mimosa while…read moreshopping in the store!

I swung by a place next door for lunch. They were crazy busy though and I saw on Yelp that this…read moreplace did sandwiches so I decided to give them a try. It was barely controlled chaos in the store to say the least. It was a Saturday when I swung through, so all of the tourists from the Blue Ridge Parkway were stopping by for their tourist shopping fix. So I don't blame the chaos on the store so much as the tourists acting all rude and entitled, shoving their way around the store. I digress. The deli sandwich I had was very good, and made promptly. I also had a homemade brownie which had the perfect amount of sweetness and walnut ratio to it. I wanted to try the Possum Pie but just get the nerve up to ask what was in it. I mean it couldn't have been real possum could it? They do have limited outside tables. I was lucky enough to snag one but you may want to pick your food up here and then plan for a nice picnic on one of the parkways scenic pullouts.

I have enjoyed this destination for its uniqueness and scenery. Would not mind having a place to…read morelive near this market. Great food, reasonably priced.

Best sandwiches around. There's nothing better than their fresh bread. They have a great selection…read moreof baked goods and all kinds of goodies.

Great stop on our drive back north. The sandwiches are huge! The price is very reasonable as well!read more