A man, a plan, a ham, Allan Benton

This man is responsible for some of the tastiest meats one can find in America. Chefs all over clamor for his aged hams (and, for my money, he makes the tastiest bacon money can buy). And Allan Benton (seen here with wood for the smokers) may well be the nicest man you’ll meet. When we stopped in to Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams a while back—just customers off the street—he took the time to tell us the history of his business and showed us how everything is made, step by step. Nearly an hour’s worth of touring us around and he still made the time to sit for a portrait for me.

Legendary hospitality and legendary smoked meats. They ship to basically everywhere…just sayin’.