Tales from the Road: Hidden Gems Along Hwy 98

It’s no secret that I like to search out places off-the-beaten track when I’m on vacation. And luckily I was in the right place, because this area, Alabama’s Gulf Coast, certainly has a lot of them. While I couldn’t get to them all, I was quite happy with the two I was able to visit.

Driving on Highway 98, in Elberta, a small sign caught my attention.  The simple sign read “Sweet Home Farm” and said the farm was about a half-mile from the highway. Since I wasn’t on anyone’s schedule except my own, I turned on the road in search of the farm. I was especially interested in learning more since the farm-to-table movement is big with not only restaurants, but home meals as well.

I wasn’t sure what I type of building I was looking for and was surprised to discover a quaint-looking house. Seeing the ‘open’ sign in the window, I knew I must be in the right place and entered.

Boy, am I glad I did.

A little background on Sweet Home Farm before I talk about the fabulous cheeses I sampled. This is a working family dairy in Baldwin County that was established in the mid-‘80s and the first licensed farmstead cheesemakers in the state. All of their cheeses in their display case is made from the milk from their own cows.

Now, to their cheese. They offer such choices as Elberta (described as semi-soft and slight tart) to Bama Jack (similar to Colby) to Baldwin Swiss (nut-like flavor) to Perdido (one of their signature cheese that has a herbal, smoky flavor) to Feta. In addition, they carry other gourmet items, including homemade breads made by an Elberta resident.

After leaving Sweet Home Farm, I decided to stop at BJ Farms on 98. This farmers market is one of those local places worth stopping by. With your cheese from Sweet Home Farm, you can add some vegetables and strawberries to make a good local dish and/or snack for a impromptu picnic on the beach.

photo credit: personal photos