Georgians may not “own” pimento cheese, but we sure have perfected it.
Proper Pepper’s Small Batch Pimento Cheese
In Sandersville, about halfway between Milledgeville and Wrens, Deana Bibb is known as “the queen of pimento cheese.” Twenty-three years ago she tweaked a friend’s pimento cheese recipe and she’s been sharing it with friends and neighbors ever since. Now she’s sharing her pimento cheese with the rest of us.
There’s the Classic, exactly what you think pimento cheese should taste like, and then there’s Get Back Jack with a dose of jalapeno. As someone in my house (who shall remain nameless) consumed the entire 10-ounce package by himself, he said between mouthfuls, “It’s got exactly the right amount of heat.” Every element comes through individually - freshly grated white sharp Cabot cheddar, Duke’s mayonnaise, small chunks of roasted pepper and the surprise ingredient, cottage cheese. The texture is rich and it tastes just as if you’d made it yourself (if you wanted to take the time).
$7 - $8.99 per 10-ounce container. Available at Atlanta Botanical Garden, Cheeses & Mary in Milton, Decatur Market, Local Provisions in Newnan, Lucy's Market in Buckhead, Southern Belle Farm in McDonough and through NaturesGardenExpress.com. properpepper.com.
Home grown’s Pimento Cheese
Their breakfasts are delicious but it may be the pimento cheese at Home grown restaurant in Reynoldstown that’s put them on the national map. Maybe it’s even the reason you’ll gladly wait over an hour for brunch on Saturday or Sunday: pimento cheese toast with their chicken and vegetable soup, pimento cheese sandwiches made on grilled Texas toast, pimento cheese on the Grant Stack sandwich. The ways they use their pimento cheese are endless.
You’ll love experimenting with their pimento cheese when you get it home. Because you don’t have to wait in line to enjoy it, you can buy it to go, or find it at your local Kroger. You can get the Classic made with cheddar and roasted red peppers with a little cayenne. Or the Jalapeno that has lots of kick from those spicy peppers.
$7 per 11-ounce container. Available at the restaurant, 968 Memorial Drive, SE, Atlanta, or at Kroger and on Amazon. homegrownga.com.
Dr. Pete’s Pimento Cheese Dressing Mix
Why confine your pimento cheese consumption to crackers and sandwiches? How about pimento cheese on a wedge of iceberg? Or pimento cheese as a dip? If you mix up a batch of Dr. Pete’s Pimento Cheese Dressing Mix you can enjoy those treats and more.
Dr. Pete’s products are made in Ailey, Georgia, just south of I-16 and near the town of Vidalia. The company is named for T. A. Peterson, known to the community as Dr. Pete, who was as famous for his cooking as for practicing medicine in Ailey. Just as with Ranch dressing, you mix the contents of the dressing mix package along buttermilk and mayonnaise and a little vinegar. The mix contains Parmesan and cheddar cheese with ground red bell peppers and other seasonings. We made short work of our batch enjoying it with carrot and celery sticks.
$4.95 per 2-ounce package. Pimento cheese dressing mix and other Dr. Pete's products available at all Cook's Warehouse locations, Tuxedo Pharmacy in Buckhead, Front Porch in Vinings and online at dr-petes.com.
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