"Gourmet" or imported food stores (Johnson City, Kingsport: to buy, prices)

[tonypitt]

Is there anyplace in this region that stocks gourmet or important foods? I'm particularly looking for Italian hard meats and cheeses.

[beachdiver]

have you tried "I Fancy Food" in Jonesborough (www.ifancyfood.com)? They have a wide selection of foods & cooking things - it's a really neat little shop. A while back, I was in Gourmet & Co. and they had some stuff, but not meats or cheeses. And, there's always Fresh Market in Asheville if you're up for a road trip. Their cheese selection is fantastic.

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by tonypitt

Is there anyplace in this region that stocks gourmet or important foods? I'm particularly looking for Italian hard meats and cheeses.

What are important foods in your opinion? Haha. J/K

Kroger has some things, not a lot, but some.

[jabogitlu]

As for cheese, try Earth Fare. Also I know that Korner-Copia in Kingsport is starting to diversify their meat selections... For imported foods in general (non-Italian) there's also the Stock Pot (Asian) and the African Market on North Roan.

[blindsolitude]

The Ingles on N Roan has a decent cheese selection in the deli area. I was actually kind of surprised by it. But definitely try Earthfare first.

[donsabi]

tonypitt,

Unfortunately, you are now in an area where Italian food specialties cannot be found. The closest Italian deli I know is in Charlotte NC and owned by a family from Brooklyn. You also will not find a Jewish deli or a Polish butcher shop. Your best bet is to shop the internet or move.


Kroger and Food City both have imported sections but they are very limited and unimpressive.

[kamoshika]

Inari Wines Gourmet Market (http://inariwines.com/cheese.php - broken link) in downtown Bristol, VA has a very nice selection of imported cheeses, including Italian.

There's an Italian deli in Hendersonville, NC about 80-85 minutes from Johnson City.

[bkjonesborough]

I Fancy Food has an Italian import section, but no perishables. Earth Fare has the best imported cheese and meat section in the area, unless you want to drive to Asheville.

[SarahSal]

Or, you can order on-line although prices seemed quite high. [This was an interesting subject so I checked!] We used to enjoy wheels of Fontina and Fontinella cheeses (onc owned a country store in CT) but when I looked I was finding prices for Italian cheeses at over $500 for a twenty pound wheel! Would be nice to have more of this type of offering in the TRI but I guess we ARE fortunate to have the stores that we do -- plus being close enough to drive to Asheville.

[bkjonesborough]

Sarah, I've bought Fontina in the past at Ingles. It's been a while, but they do have it. I don't think I've seen Fontinella locally.

There's also Ference Cheese Market in Asheville, right on the Weaverville Hwy. They have maybe 30 cheeses in the front to buy by the pound, but a few hundred in the back. They wholesale and also sell retail. Maybe they have it at a better price.