Father's Day Family Favorites June 04 2024

fathers day family favorite gifts from north carolina

By Elizabeth Ritchie Sherrill

Local North Carolina gifts for Dad

We have pulled together a few of our favorite items to gift to Dad alongside our cheese straws this Father’s Day, and we thought we’d share! All of these items are made in North Carolina, just like Heath’s Cheese Straws.

First up is always Heath's Cheese Straws, which come in Original or Spicy. Seeing as how the original family recipe came from my grandfather, and was then made by my dad due to high demand, I think it’s a tried-and-true gift option. For a Dad with a sweet tooth, try Britt’s Spritz Cookies!

If you haven’t tried Griff’s Toffee out of Chapel Hill, North Carolina then you’re in for a real treat. I can’t help but pick some up at the store when I see these tasty little squares. Their pecan toffee is delicious, but my husband’s favorite is their coffee toffee. Either way, you can’t go wrong!

Both sweet and salty snacks are the perfect accompaniment to Dad’s favorite brew. As a family, we are a fan of Old Mecklenburg Brewery’s Copper Ale. When their brewery first got started in 2009, Copper Ale was only available to purchase via a growler from a local pub, not in bottles. It was pretty wistful to walk our growler back for refills! Now Copper Ale is available in bottles across the state. I just recently found it in our local grocery store at the coast and texted my parents a picture to share my excitement.

For Dads who know their way around the kitchen, try a bag of Tidewater Grain Co.’s Carolina Gold Rice to go alongside seafood or grilled chicken dinner. I came across an article on Tidewater Grain in Our State magazine two summers ago and was transfixed by the history of Carolina Gold Rice and the company itself. I immediately sought out a bag and took it back home on a visit to see my dad for us to cook together.

For a morning boost, I love Carolina Coffee Co. Favorite blends include Coastal Carolina, Porch Time, and Black Mountain. They are so good that I rarely pick up something new, but we are working our way through trying them all.

Happy shopping local!