Local pimento-cheese maker Tom’s Tiny Kitchen (TTK), which debuted at farmers markets before expanding to grocers like Miss Cordelia’s and Superlo, spread its reach considerably on Monday when it hit the shelves of six area Krogers.
Ross Flournoy, of Tom’s Tiny Kitchen and the son of Tom, took time to talk pimento cheese with Hungry Memphis.
Hungry Memphis: There are a lot of pimento cheeses out there … What sets TTK apart?
Ross Flournoy: Taste AND texture! Obviously I’m not impartial, but I’ve never experienced a tastier PC than ours. And the texture is unique — it’s thick and chunky, not smooth and processed like most. That’s because we grate all of our own cheese and mix every single batch by HAND. You hear that??? By hand! No machines involved!
When you were working out the Kroger deal, did you insist on being in specific Krogers … Baby Kroger, Sexy Kroger, Good Kroger?
My one condition for going into Kroger was that they guarantee me as many Reese’s Big Cups as I want, free of charge, for the rest of my life. Which they granted.
In all seriousness, we were just thrilled to go into ANY Kroger at all, so to start in six is a dream come true.
You have a new logo and are working out of a new facility, what’s the larger goal?
To get as many people as we possibly can to try our pimento cheese, throughout the country!
You’re at the farmers market, Miss Cordelia’s, Superlo, High Point, Easy Way, and now Kroger … how much pimento cheese are we talking about?
Unfortunately, we’re not at any farmers’ markets this summer — we were just too busy moving into the new facility. In terms of how much PC we produce…we’re fast approaching a ton per week.
There’s been talk about a new product. Spill! Deviled ham? Will it be a spreadable edible?
That’s a good question! And the answer is TOP SECRET. But I can tell you it will most likely NOT involve any deviling or any hams. Spreadable? Perhaps. If it were up to me, there would definitely be chocolate and peanut butter involved.
Tom’s Tiny Kitchen is available at the following Kroger locations: Mendenhall, Perkins, Truse Parkway, Poplar Plaza, Poplar in Germantown, and Union.
You can also find it at Miss Cordelia’s, High Point Grocery, Superlo (on Spottswood and in Southaven), John’s Pantry, Easy Way (East Memphis, Midtown, Bartlett), and Charlie’s Meat Market.
Images courtesy Tom’s Tiny Kitchen
