Tony’s Smithville Food Run: Groceries, Farmers Market & a Cabin Dinner

Start with the farmers market

When the market is open, begin your local-food run at the DeKalb County Farmers Market located at 205 East Bryant Street in Smithville. The market accepts SNAP/EBT and connects visitors with growers and makers from DeKalb County and the surrounding area. Arrive early for the best seasonal selection.

Go early and buy what looks good that day. Tomatoes, squash, root vegetables, honey, eggs, and flowers can all show up, but the selection changes with the season and the vendors. Treat the market as the local bonus—not the only place you plan to buy dinner.

Groceries, Organic Options & Local Provisions

Smithville has dependable everyday grocery shopping, but it does not function like a large-city natural-food district. The smartest plan is to buy staple groceries at Food Lion or Walmart, then layer in local produce, meat, eggs, deli items and seasonal specialties from the farmers market, C&S Farms and Farmhouse Finds.

A few local stops worth adding

If you have time after the main grocery run, these stops add coffee, deli food, pantry extras, or a regional bottle. They are additions to the plan, not errands you have to complete.

If you want a Tennessee bottle: Grocery stores handle the standard choices. For something regional, add a winery stop to the drive or check the dedicated wine, brewery, and distillery guide:

• DelMonaco Winery & Vineyards: In Baxter, north of Smithville, the tasting room offers dry, sweet, red, and white Tennessee wines. Make it a planned stop rather than an accidental detour; allow time for the drive and tasting.
• Local Sourcing: If you prefer to stay right around Smithville, look for regional Tennessee wine selections at local wine and spirits shops in town, or pack a favorite bottle from a nearby vineyard on your drive into DeKalb County.

Back at the house: put out something easy

Once you are back, unpack the groceries and stop working so hard at the itinerary. The deck is a good place for a drink, a book, or fifteen quiet minutes before dinner.

Cheese, local meat, fruit, preserves, and market honey make an easy board. It does not need to be styled for a photograph. Put it on a cutting board, take it outside, and eat when you are ready.

Dinner: keep it simple

Use the kitchen or the grill—whichever creates less work. You are not trying to run a restaurant. A local protein, one good vegetable, and something cold to drink are enough.

• In the Full Kitchen: The house has stainless appliances, prep knives, pots, pans, basic oils, spices, and dinnerware. Check the pantry before buying a duplicate, then cook the meal the way you would at home.
• On the Outdoor Grill: The outdoor grill is the easiest choice for meat and seasonal vegetables, especially when you would rather stay outside than clean several pans.

Light a few candles, dim the lights, and gather around the wood dining table. Because there is no reservation window to meet and no driving required afterward, dinner can take as long as you want it to.

After dinner

If the weather cooperates, carry dessert or one last drink to the fire pit. That is usually a better ending than adding another stop to the night.

Bring out whatever sweet thing you found in town, make a fire, and take a blanket if the temperature drops. The woods get genuinely quiet at night; let that be the point.

Tony’s short shopping list

Save this list for arrival day:

• DeKalb County Farmers Market (205 E. Bryant St) – Best for seasonal vegetables, raw honey, and fresh table flowers.
• Food Lion or Walmart – Best for dependable everyday groceries and pre-ordered specialty items.
• C&S Farms (612 S Congress Blvd) – Best for farm-raised meat and rotating local products.
• Button Willow General Store & Coffee Shop (Downtown Smithville) – Best for morning specialty coffee and unique regional provisions.
• Farmhouse Finds (Jefferson Rd) – Best for unique gourmet pantry staples, local deli items, and home decor inspiration.
• DelMonaco Winery (Baxter, TN) – Best for a local wine tasting experience and stocking up on regional bottles. Plan Tony’s complete wine and distillery day →

Make one good meal part of the trip

The kitchen, grill, deck, and fire pit are ready. Bring groceries, add something local, and make dinner on your own time.

Plan more of your Center Hill Lake getaway

Explore more local ideas before your stay: Things to Do, Where to Eat Near Center Hill Lake, How to Do Center Hill Lake Like a Local, and Photos of The Little Lake House.