Darden's Country Store — Attraction in Smithfield

Darden Country Store is a great place to stop for all sorts of treats. To my mind the Darden's excel at country ham. I grew up in the area and country ham was a staple at any celebratory gathering. It's becoming harder and harder to find. I was so lucky that this week I received for Christmas a Darden ham which was cooked and sliced and packaged by the store. My cousin picked it up and shipped to me and it's amazing. There's nowhere in my region I can buy such great ham. These days people wax poetically about slow food and regional delicacies from all over the world. It's wonderful to know that there are business and farmers here who still craft amazing products using time honored methods. The Darden's are such people.

Italy may have Prosciutto di Parma, Spain snack on Jamon Iberico and France extol the virtues of Jambon de Bayonne but I would choose one of the Darden's hams over them all every time! Lets hope they keep the traditions of real Virginia country ham alive for years to come and get yourself over there and buy some...

It is small and quaint and very well kept. Darden's reminds me of the small country stores I got to go in with dad on hunting trips. The staff is friendly and courteous. This is the perfect little store to pick up genuine seasoning meat for cooking. It was well worth the trip for the great memories alone. If you want to see what the small family owned markets were like before the big stores took over and a trip back to simpler times it's all right there. Darden's country store, thank you for the trip down...

Wow! I happen to be in Powerhouse Equipment store (“Go, Larry, the owner, Herbert aka Herb, Tall-Handsome-John, Billy and Team!”) picking up my repaired Weedwhacker and overheard my lawn-care mechanic Herb 😍 getting orders for lunch. So, I asked, “where are you going?” Herb answered, “Darden’s. Wanna follow me?” I said, “Sure!” Wowzer! It’s back there off the roads - BUT well worth the haul! Thank you, Ladies! See YAL soon! And Double “Thank you”...