Ever since I first heard about what Nathan Gifford was doing at his small bacon-curing business working out of a rented smokehouse space, I’ve started to see the name of his products pop up on more and more restaurant menus in town. Gifford’s Bacon has even supplanted the iconic Benton’s Bacon at some places, so you know he’s earning fans.
However, for us members of the general population, it’s always been difficult to get outr mitts on the meat as Gifford has always had to work really hard to keep up with wholesale restaurant demand. At first, he offered a rudimentary pickup service out of his facility north of downtown, and I have been able to score a pound or two every now and then in the market at Green Door Gourmet. But Gifford’s Bacon has always primarily been a restaurant-focused business, which makes a lot of sense since Gifford comes from a kitchen background himself.
With a recent move to a new smokehouse facility in East Nashville on Straightway Avenue, Gifford has decided to make some of his Prime South Meats more readily available for consumers to purchase. He has already released his own brand of barbecue sauce in conjunction with the July Fourth holiday, and has recently announced that he’ll be selling his bacon, smoked bologna and hot sauce online at his company’s website. Though it's not available for shipping yet, customers willing to make the drive will be able to purchase Gifford’s products to pick up on Fridays between the hours of 2 and 4 p.m. at Prime South Meats, located at 1109 Straightway Ave.
While it may be a schlep for some folks, the delicate touch that Gifford demonstrates with salt and smoke sets his products apart from many other high-end specialty foods, and his work is worth the trip. Take a late lunch on Friday to make sure you have a fantastic brunch on Sunday!
