By Kimberly Hoffman
Sweet potatoes, pecan pie, Bojangles Chicken 'n Biscuits, Krispy Kreme, Pepsi-Cola - the list of North Carolina-made products goes on and on. But why should you purchase products made in the Tar Heel State?
Buying NC local shows your North Carolina pride, keeps your money here in the state, and helps the economy by saving jobs and keeping tax dollars in your community.
And that doesn’t even cover the freshness of food made here or the eco-friendly benefits of less packaging and fuel costs spent hauling items here.
A pie made from pecans grown on North Carolina trees just tastes better. Bonus: There’s no need for a cardboard or paper box to ship it in -- just pull the pie out of the refrigerator.
6 Ways Buying NC Local Makes a Difference
1. Shows your North Carolina pride
Few places have earned bragging rights like the Tar Heel state. Home to three U.S. presidents, Bank of America, Texas Pete hot sauce, Lone Star Steakhouse (sorry, Texas), Fresh Market, and Food Lion grocery stores, everything you need is right here.
That’s where NC Made comes in. NC Made celebrates the artisanal foods made here, and ships tastes of North Carolina to friends and family all over the world. That’s why it’s worth noting that NC Made’s new curator is one of North Carolina’s own success stories.
A true Southerner, Tonya Council grew up in Chapel Hill, where she watched her grandma crack pecans for pies. Mildred Council – better known as “Mama Dip” – was a culinary legend in North Carolina, praised by celebrities, athletes, and presidents. She knew the importance of buying local.
Tonya followed in grandma's footsteps, cracking pecans, flipping eggs, and waiting tables. Today she continues the Council family tradition as the founder of Tonya’s Cookies and Sweet Tea & Cornbread.
2. Keeps your money in North Carolina
When you spend your money on locally-made goods at local stores, your tax dollars stay in North Carolina. That's money that pays for schools, libraries, roads, fire and police departments.
Buying NC local also saves local jobs. Small-business owners create opportunities for local residents to work in the community. With local restaurants taking a hit during the current pandemic, it's more important than ever to spend every taxable dollar in the state.
3. Tastes fresher from farm to table
By shopping local, your food doesn't have to travel hundreds or thousands of miles to get to your table. Your produce and baked goods will be days old, not weeks old.
Buying NC local gives you access to fresher, more nutritious food.
4. Benefits the environment
Since your food and goods don't need to travel far, it needs less packaging and takes less fuel to arrive at your home.
Buying NC local means less packaging, which translates to less waste in our landfills.
5. Celebrates NC’s diversity
Ever notice most malls across the country have the exact same chain stores? Locally owned shops offer a unique flavor all their own. Many of these businesses are minority-owned and offer a wide range of cultural diversity to your neighborhood.
In addition to overseeing her own businesses, Tonya actively promotes black-owned businesses. She buys local, but offers NC Made gourmet foods to an international market.
People from all over the world can now enjoy the Old North State's rich and diverse influences from African Americans and Western and Eastern Europeans.
“Seeing how hard it was to get in certain stores, I wanted to make it easier for other people to be able to showcase their brand as well,” she told the Triangle Tribune. “Life lessons came daily. The biggest lesson is trying to give back to the community whenever possible.”
6. Supports your neighbors
Perhaps the best reason to buy NC local is because you're supporting your neighbors. You're more than just another customer to the local merchant: You're his lifeblood.
Maybe that's why the customer service is often friendlier at your local stores.
Kimberly Hoffman is a restaurant critic and avid traveler who searches for the best restaurant in every city she visits. You won’t find her dining in any chain restaurants, preferring to sample the local cuisine in every city. The chefs in her favorites are willing to share their recipes with her.
]]>The chill in the air has us dreaming of brisk walks through the woods and breath-taking Blue Ridge views, so we're planning a trip to a tiny house in the North Carolina mountains!
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How do you take your tea? We usually prefer ours with cream and Cloister Honey, but the distinct flavors of Calendula and bergamot in our favorite Asheville Grey Tea have inspired us to think beyond the mug.
]]>We pride ourselves on finding the best NC foods, but when it comes to our gift guide we don't stop at the snacks. This year's list has even more of our favorite non-perishable products by NC makers we adore.
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We used My Neighbor's Blueberry Jam from Crow Bar Farm Foods to make this sweet treat that is equally wonderful squared up as an afternoon snack, or warmed, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert.
]]>We're probably not alone in admitting that we plan all of our trips around meals, but this time we're putting food first in our list of the top five food experiences worth traveling for, found all across our great state.
]]>Benny's Big Time Pizzeria in Wilmington, NC
Green Tomato Pizza from Benny's Big Time
The glorious sweet potato! North Carolina is one of the most prolific producers of this absurdly versatile tuber, so we created a dessert to celebrate its divine wonder -- here's our most requested recipe!
]]>The glorious sweet potato! North Carolina is one of the most prolific producers of this absurdly versatile tuber, so we created a dessert to celebrate its divine wonder, and now we're finally sharing our most requested recipe! Special thanks to my dad, Anthony Cueto, for his indispensable help on developing this one :)
Sweet Potato Spice Snacking Cake
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cups sugar
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
3/4 cup peeled, cooked, mashed sweet potatoes
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9 x 9 inch metal cake pan with cooking spray then lightly coat with a dusting of flour. In large mixing bowl, combine all cake ingredients with electric mixer on low speed, scraping down sides of bowl until well-blended, then increase mixer speed to high and blend for 3 more minutes. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 35-40 minutes on center rack in oven until golden brown and toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool completely for approximately 1 hour before removing from pan. Once cool, spread frosting on top of cake.
Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
5 oz cream cheese
2 1/2 T unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/8 cup pure maple syrup
Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter in medium bowl until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar and beat at low speed until well-blended, then beat in maple syrup. Chill bowl of frosting in fridge until consistency is firm enough to spread on cooled cake, about 30 minutes.
Looking for more recipes with irresistible southern flavor? Try our Country Ham Biscuits with Brown Sugar Butter or Smoky Pimento Cheese.
There are loads of hidden quarries and waterfalls tucked all over North Carolina -- we've rounded up our top 5 with suggestions on where to stop for a bite to eat while you're at it.
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The newest chapter in the NC Made Cookbook Club saga had us flipping through the flour-dusted pages of Tara Jensen's beautiful cookbook/memoir A Baker's Year with eager eyes and watery mouths.
]]>North Carolina is full of incredible restaurants, world-renowned chefs, and unique food experiences -- including local food festivals! We've rounded up a short list of all the best food festivals in NC.
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Blackberry Sonker
North Carolina is full of incredible restaurants, world-renowned chefs, and unique food experiences -- including local food festivals! We've rounded up a short list of all the best food festivals in NC, in no particular (ok, chronological) order. Who's ready for a road trip?
We love helping you find thoughtful gifts for all of the special mother-figures in your life. Here's our round-up of other also-totally-amazing items handmade by female artists, makers, and designers from across NC.
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Our third edition of the NC Made Cookbook Club was a feast for the mouth and the eyes, fixed from the gorgeously illustrated pages of Vivian Howard's encyclopedic cookbook Deep Run Roots.
]]>Party Magnet Cheese Ball
The Full Spread
Collard, Carrot, and Raisin Salad
Deep Run Roots Plated
B&S Applejacks
If you host an NC Made Cookbook Club, we want to hear about it! Share your photos on Instagram with the hashtag #ncmadecookbookclub and we'll feature your beautiful work on our feed!
Read more about how we started the NC Made Cookbook Club and see our past entries here and here.
Looking for more delicious and easy southern-inspired recipes? Check out our popular Coke 'n' Peanuts Sheet Cake or our insanely good Country Ham Biscuits with Brown Sugar Butter.
A supremely easy recipe, perfect for a potluck party appetizer or piled on a platter for brunch, our country ham biscuits are steeped in southern hospitality with a delightful sweetness.
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Two Chicks Farm Mild Pepper Jelly is our favorite way to add an unexpected twist to sweet and savory recipes, and while the possibilities are really endless, here are our 9 quick takes.
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The second episode of the NC Made Cookbook Club is coming in hot! Featuring a bounty of delicious recipes created from the pantry staples lovingly detailed in author Ashley English's latest cookbook.
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The second episode of the NC Made Cookbook Club is coming in hot! Featuring a bounty of delicious recipes created from the pantry staples lovingly detailed in author Ashley English's latest cookbook.
From her cozy home nestled in the mountains of Candler, NC, Ashley English has written a whopping 11 books (with #12 in the works!) covering everything from pies and potlucks, to picnics and preserves, all with a handmade ethos we here at NC Made can really get behind. Her latest cookbook titled Southern from Scratch: Pantry Essentials and Down-Home Recipes is an in-depth exploration of Southern Appalachian cuisine that includes 50 recipes for essential building blocks like chicken stock and homemade ketchup that are then put to work in 100 other quintessential southern dishes, all with English's modern approach.
Dividing up the dishes proved a bit more difficult this time around, as my father was invited to contribute and he is a great cook with a penchant for desserts -- but Nicole had already called dibs. DRAMA! It took a bit of convincing to redirect him (and many promises that he'd get another invitation to prove himself at a future Supper Club), but the menu we settled on was full of multiple meat options and copious carbs, just as any good southern supper should be:
Sausage Balls with Pepper Jelly Glaze
Pulled Pork & Barbecue Sauce
Cornbread
Mac & Cheese with Potato Chip Crust
Blackberry Lemon Sonker
Sausage Balls with Pepper Jelly Glaze
Big Eyes, Full Plates, Can't Lose
All of the Meats: Pulled Pork & Barbecue Sauce + Sausage Balls with Pepper Jelly Glaze
Blackberry Lemon Sonker
Looking for a fun way to connect with friends over a home-cooked meal? Start your own NC Made Cookbook Club and share photos of whatever you whip up on Instagram with the hashtag #ncmadecookbookclub.
You can also see how the NC Made Cookbook Club got started and read about our first entry: Poole's.
Want a show-stopping appetizer for your next dinner party? Try our Smoky Pimento Cheese recipe.
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We love tracking down the perfect gifts, so it's no surprise that we started a business doing exactly that with a North Carolina food focus. This year we're shining a light on some other non-edible NC-made creations.
]]>When you go home for the holidays, where are the places that you seek comfort? We've rounded up an essential list of all the hometown favorites we make sure to hit up whenever we're in town.
]]>The first installment of the NC Made Cookbook Club was an ambitious challenge with delicious and surprising results. Ashley Christensen's Poole's: Recipes and Stories from a Modern Diner starts us off!
]]>Inspired by the classic southern combo of salted peanuts poured in ice-cold cola, we made an insanely good Coke 'n' Peanuts Sheet Cake featuring one of our most popular snacks: Mount Olive FUMC Peanuts.
]]>After a glorious week exploring the Outer Banks last month, we thought that in the spirit of what we do --curating gift boxes full of the best foods from all across NC-- we'd share a curated list of our highlights.
]]>Bodie Island Lighthouse in Nags Head, NC
We spent a glorious week exploring the Outer Banks last month and thought that in the spirit of what we do -- curating gift boxes full of the best foods the great state of North Carolina has to offer -- we'd share our own curated list of all the highlights. This overview is by no means exhaustive as there are so many quaint towns to see, and we only had 7 days (and we're already dreaming of going back!). But in case you're planning a trip out that way, or our round up inspires some spontaneous wanderlust, here are some of the best things to do and most importantly EAT in NC Made’s Guide to the Outer Banks.
Tacos at TBC West Tacos & Taproom in Rocky Mount, NC
Starting with the road trip portion of the journey, we stopped at 200-year-old Rocky Mount Mills to have lunch at TBC West Tacos & Taproom. A branch of nearby Tarboro Brewing Company, owners Inez and Stephen Ribustello serve an eclectic menu of tacos made from fresh, local ingredients that pair nicely with their rotating selection of house-brewed beers.
Roanoke River Lighthouse in Edenton, NC
Our next destination was Edenton where we hopped on the guided Trolley Tour for a slow, informative drive around the picturesque town. It's been nicknamed the South's prettiest small town, and its well-preserved colonial- and plantation-era architecture did not disappoint. Built in 1886 and lovingly restored, the Roanoke River Lighthouse on the waterfront is thought to be the last square-sided screw-pile lighthouse left in America. So that was cool!
We stayed in an amazing Airbnb in Kill Devil Hills that we'd recommend if you don't mind a bonus hot tub and pool with your beach trip, but there are loads of other great properties like this one and this one. And this one! Oh! And this one too! The beach there was beautiful, of course, and it was a great home-base for the various day trips we took throughout the week to get to know the area.
A wild horse (!!) in Corolla, NC
A Wild Horse Tour in Corolla was at the very top of our list. We piled into an open-air safari truck with a guide who drove us over 25 miles of beach while we learned about the area's history and saw actual wild horses! Climbing the stately unpainted red-brick Currituck Beach Lighthouse in nearby Corolla Village was another high point of the day.
Weeping Radish Farm Brewery in Grandy, NC
Weeping Radish Farm Brewery in Grandy bills itself at the oldest microbrewery in the state, so a beer was obviously in order. And they have an award-winning Butchery on-site that turns out the most delicious selection of seasonal sausages. Get the Reuben, and be sure to pick up a few packs of their amazing all-natural pork hot dogs to grill up back at the house.
The NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island in Manteo was the ideal rainy day activity. Their jellyfish were real stunners. Pun very much intended.
We had a lovely dinner at The Blue Point in Duck. They serve outstanding locally-sourced seafood with a Southern focus. The rows of Adirondack chairs facing the Currituck Sound made for some seriously breathtaking views at sunset. Breakfast at the famous Duck Donuts was also a no-brainer. They come warm and made-to-order and are superb.
Jennette's Pier in Nags Head, NC
In Nags Head, we had a fantastic lunch at Fish Heads Bar & Grill on the water followed by a long walk on Jennette's Pier where visitors are welcome to drop a line into the ocean and take in the gorgeous blue views. Further north, the eclectic beach-themed seagreen gallery is a great spot to pick up a souvenir followed by a trip to sweet Surfin' Spoon for a cup of frozen yogurt or a Lemon Lavberry ice cream sandwich. We especially loved their curved peach door. No visit to Nags Head would be complete without a stop at the black-and-white striped Bodie Island Lighthouse as well as Jockey's Ridge State Park for the tallest natural sand dunes in the Eastern US.
If you'd like to see more from our city guide series, you can check out our Guide to Asheville and our Guide to Durham.
It's like a book club, but tastier + more wine. Everyone makes a different recipe from the same cookbook written by a North Carolina author and brings it to the table potluck style. We're kicking off our new series with...
We're starting an NC Made Cookbook Club and you're invited!
We love taking a regular get together with friends and elevating it to the level of special occasion in small ways. Mixing up a fancy themed cocktail, serving appetizers on frilly toothpicks (inspired by Mermaids obviously), and now starting our very own NC Made Cookbook Club!
Make an event out of your next social gathering and join in on the fun! Everyone prepares a different recipe from the same cookbook written by a North Carolina author and brings it to the table potluck style. Then tag us + share a photo of your prepared dish on Instagram with the hashtag #ncmadecookbookclub
We'd looove to see what everyone's cooking up and to share your creations on our feed. Mmm feed.
Kicking off our mouth-watering new series will be Poole's: Recipes and Stories from a Modern Diner written by celebrated Raleigh-based chef Ashley Christensen, winner of the James Beard Award for Best Chef Southeast in 2014 and owner of Poole's Diner, Death & Taxes, Beasley's Chicken + Honey, Chuck's, and Fox Liquor Bar. We've long been admirers of Ashley's work and especially love her modern twists on southern comfort classics. It's been difficult to settle on just one recipe -- right now it's between the Chilled Corn Soup with Cherry Tomatoes, the Buttermilk Chess Pie with Grilled Peaches, and the Cauliflower Soup with Sultanas and Crisp Capers -- but we're super excited to share some delicious North Carolina-inspired dishes together with friends.
Whether you like yours spread on crackers, smeared on celery, or sandwiched between two slices of bread, we've taken the southern classic Pimento Cheese and kicked it up a notch in our newest recipe.
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Whether you like yours spread on crackers, smeared on celery, or sandwiched between two slices of bread, Pimento Cheese is a southern staple with an open invitation to potlucks and cookouts. Here's *our* surprising twist that kicks this classic up a notch.
Pimento Cheese
2 cups (8 oz) sharp yellow cheddar cheese, grated -- a block of cheese is best
2 cups (8 oz) extra sharp white cheddar cheese, grated -- again with the block of cheese
4 oz jar pimentos, drained and finely chopped
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
Combine all ingredients in a bowl until thoroughly mixed. Serve with an assortment of crackers, pretzels, kettle chips, celery stalks, cucumber slices, bell pepper boats -- the possibilities are endless. Would also make an excellent filling for grilled cheese.
(Inspired by the incomparable Pimento Cheese from Parker & Otis)
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We're collaborating on a phenomenal Instagram giveaway featuring gifts from Edge of Urge, Synergy Spa & Aesthetics, Mandolin, and NC Made in honor of Mother's Day this year.
]]>We're collaborating on a phenomenal Instagram giveaway featuring amazing gifts from Edge of Urge, Synergy Spa & Aesthetics, Mandolin, and NC Made in honor of Mother's Day this year.
Are you looking for a thoughtful way to show the mother in your life that you care? Then look no further -- we've planned the perfect Mother's Day for you! Spend the day celebrating mom in Raleigh this year. Start with brunch at Mandolin where chef Sean Fowler serves contemporary Southern cuisine with a focus on local, seasonal ingredients. Once the Country Ham Benedict and Sourdough Waffles have all been eaten, you can present her with a beautifully packaged Pine State Sweets Box full of handcrafted artisan foods from NC Made. Then head over to Edge of Urge to check out this eclectic shop's beautiful collection of clothing, jewelry, and gifts from emerging and independent designers. (Mom probably wouldn't object to a cookie pitstop at neighboring Yellow Dog Bread Co.) End the day with a relaxing Because You Do So Much spa treatment at Synergy Spa & Aesthetics, that includes your choice of either a 75-minute Synergy Customized Massage or Advanced Clinical Facial followed by a Synergy Soothing Pedicure.
In honor of our Guide to Mother's Day in Raleigh, together we're giving away one Pine State Sweets Box from NC Made, one customized hand-stamped brass heart necklace and a $25 gift card from Edge of Urge, one spa package worth $157 from Synergy Spa & Aesthetics, and one $20 gift certificate from Mandolin. The total prize is valued at over $275!
To enter, head over to our Instagram account to find the Giveaway post and follow the instructions:
1. Follow @ncmadenet + @edgeofurge + @feelsynergy + @mandolinraleigh on Instagram
2. Like at least one of our Instagram Giveaway photos
3. Tag a friend in the comments of that same sponsor's Instagram post (multiple entries allowed in separate comments please)
The Instagram Giveaway runs from 4/30/18 until 5/4/18 at 5pm. A winner will be chosen by random drawing and announced on 5/5/18. NC Made will contact the winner via Direct Message with details.
NOTE: You must have an Instagram account to enter the contest.
Good luck!
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We took a quick trip to Asheville last month, and since every minute was stuffed full of delicious food and mountains of fun, we thought we'd share our list of 'must-dos' with you in full.
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Ever wondered how to work more Benny T's Vesta Dry Hot Sauce into your life? This unique hot "sauce" from Raleigh is great on SO many things, but here are 12 suggestions for ways to spice things up.
]]>1 - dust deviled eggs (pictured above)
2 - stir into sautéed garlic kale
3 - sprinkle on avocado toast (duh)
4 - blacken shrimp
5 - scramble with eggs
6 - toss over popcorn
7 - top mac-n-cheese
8 - scatter across olive oil for bread dipping
9 - shake over nachos
10 - blend into ground beef burgers
11 - spice up chicken parm
12 - PIZZA
Find Benny T's Vesta Dry Hot Sauce in our Oak City Gift Box.
]]>NC Made was thrilled to be recently profiled in Raleigh's Walter Magazine where we talked about our new partnership and what we love most (among many things) about this business.
]]>We're excited to share that NC Made was recently profiled in Walter Magazine. In an article written by editor Jessie Ammons, Nicole and Cathleen discuss their new partnership and what they love most (among many, many things : ) about their business. Photo by Madeline Gray
“The boxes support local food makers, and they’re a chance to practice gratitude. The sentiments that come with gifts are inspiring.”
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We're beyond excited to announce a phenomenal Instagram giveaway with The Durham Hotel, The Zen Succulent, Everyday Magic, and NC Made in honor of Valentine's Day this year.
]]>1. Follow @ncmadenet + @thedurhamhotel + @thezensucculent + @everyday_magic on Instagram
2. Like at least one of our Instagram Giveaway photos
3. Tag a friend in the comments of that same sponsor's Instagram post (multiple entries allowed in separate comments please)
This Instagram Giveaway runs from 1/29/18 until 2/2/18 at 5pm. A winner will be chosen by random drawing and announced on 2/3/18. NC Made will contact the winner via Direct Message through Instagram with details. NOTE: You MUST be able to physically claim all prizes at The Durham Hotel on 2/14/18 in order to win, and you must have an Instagram account to enter the contest.
Click here to read the full Terms & Conditions.
Whether they love sampling the best beer or barbecue that North Carolina has to offer, curling up with a movie at home or exploring new places, we've got something for everyone on your list.
]]>Our Cross Creek Gift Box is a thoughtful gift for any holiday party you're invited to this season, demonstrating gratitude + good taste, while providing 3 easy hors d'oeuvres the host can serve right out of the box.
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Brisk air, crunchy leaves, and cozy sweaters: autumn has arrived in NC! And what could be more "fall" than apple picking? Here's our guide to the best orchards in modern mountain town Hendersonville, NC.
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