Allyson and Chris, for people who may not be familiar with Olde Virden's Tennessee Pepper Company, how would you describe it and yourselves?
Olde Virden's Tennessee Pepper Co. specializes in dehydrated chili pepper blends. We work with a local farmer, which enables us to produce a chili pepper blend that is fresher than any other product on the market. We pick up the peppers, and within 24 hours, the peppers are being processed.
Chris and I are avid foodies and outdoors people. We are adventurous souls who aren't afraid to try something new or visit a new place. We love discovering what is around the corner or what is the newest food trend.
Where is your new market located?
We are located at 204 Randolf Street near The Old City. Find us online OldeVirdens.com.
What are two or three items you carry that are made in Tennessee?
We are stocking a few local items, Frog Juice Kombucha, Three Bears Coffee, Pippili Tea Co., Lirio Chocolate, and Cooks on the Curb pimento cheese. We also have some items that are made in the state of T.N. So there are a lot of options to support more regional producers.
What are two or three examples of food items you carry from our Tennessee neighbors?
One product that we adore is J.Q. Dickinson Salt Works out of West Virginia. They have such a unique story. Most chefs in the area are familiar with them, but a lot of our customers have not heard of them. Their salt is some of the best we have had, and it is so cool that it comes from West Virginia. We also love a new product we found from New Hampshire. Gulf of Maine Conservas specializes in line-caught seafood. The owner catches the fish and cans them in his small-batch cannery. His offerings change with the season and depending on what he is fishing for during that time. Right now, we are stocking his bluefin tuna, and it's AMAZING!
In general, what can customers find at your new store?
While we do offer a few local products that our customers may be familiar with, we are aiming to provide a place where adventurous foodies can find new products. We will focus on items that are not represented in the Knoxville market and hopefully become a destination for people who want to see what is up and coming on the food scene. We will be attending national Specialty Food shows to source a lot of the products, and we will always keep our eyes open as we travel around the country.
Tell us why you both wanted to create this new market?
Our last job as the onsite managers of LeConte Lodge allowed us to take three months off each winter. We loved to travel to different parts of the world, which meant discovering new flavors. We would take cooking classes in different countries so that we could learn about the different cooking methods and ingredients. This opened up a great big world of new and wonderful flavors. During our time growing Olde Virden's TN Pepper Co, we have come across so many amazing artisanal brands that are not known to most in our area. We wanted to create a space that would bring together those brands.
Join Amy Campbell-Rochelson weekly at The Tennessee Farm Table Podcast & Broadcast for stories of Food, Farming, and Folklore. Listen on your schedule by podcast at TennesseeFarmTable.com or listen in on your radio Saturday mornings at 9:00, 89.9. WDVX, Knoxville, 2:00 WUTC, Chattanooga and Sundays at 1:00 from Radio Bristol.