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Southern Season
Categories: Food Specialty Food Food Beer, Wine & Spirits Food Bakeries Specialty Food, Beer, Wine & Spirits, Bakeries
University Mall201 S Estes Dr
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 929-7133
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 8 am - 7 pm
Fri-Sat 8 am - 9 pm
Sun 10 am - 7 pm
- Price Range:
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$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
80 reviews for Southern Season
Review Highlights
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"They have free food samples, and a wall of chocolate bars." In 3 reviews -
"Cute and high end kitchen gadgets, but it isn't a." In 5 reviews -
"...a section of hundreds of candy bars from all over the world." In 4 reviews
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80 reviews in English
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Review from Lesley L.
Morrisville, NC
5/16/2012 2 Check-ins Here
The selection of foodie things here is so broad, yet fun and eclectic. It's a lot of fun to browse here, but expensive at the checkout! I enjoy shopping here for hostess gifts, and for the ladies in my life. Anything I get here is a hit with my mom and sister, especially!
The employees here are always very helpful! -
Review from Lori R.
4/1/2012
Foodie Heaven. Something for Everyone. Fun. Where to find hard-to-find favorites, such as Husband's favorite cheese. Great for gifts, we picked up a Mother's Day present today, as well as cards for future birthdays. Brought home crackers, popcorn, wine and more.
FRIENDLY. What a fun place this must be to work and it SHOWS. Everyone is so nice. There's someone in every department with a smile and an offer to help if you need them, but they don't bug you. There are samplings in various departments, if you're not too full from WeatherVane's. Today they even had a set-up for kids to decorate their own sugar cookies...made me wish we had a kid with us.
Perhaps the best thing about this place? There's only ONE like it, and we're lucky enough to have them right here in the triangle! -
Review from Matt M.
3/16/2012
Its hard to say enough good things about the selection, the quality, and the customer service. How many stores will open $50 bottles of Balsamic vinegar and let you taste them to decide? Or with any of the smoked fish, cheeses, and so on.
I saw the EPIC election of sweets - bakery, chocolates, candies, and so on, but I don't have much of a sweet tooth, so didn't really partake. And while they do have a ton of cookware, dinnerware, etc., this usually isn't my focus either.
And they do have a wine selection that's comparable to a Total Wine. But again, not my area of expertise.
But what I do truly love about Southern Season....
1. The teas. Reasonably priced and amazing selection. I don't do much with bagged teas, and they do have a huge selection of those, but the loose teas... They sell the super-premium by the ounce behind the counter. And the normal loose teas in 2 and 4 ounce packages are all under $10. Things like White Tip Taiwan Oolong, Blood Orange Pear, Lapsang Souchong, Masala Chai, Organic Rooibos, Strawberry Rhubarb Green tea, and so much more.
2. The cheese. Great mix of local, domestic, and imported. I came out recently with several good finds, including Chapel Hill Creamery's Hickory Grove, an amazing raw cow's milk cheese. Also a Spanish bleu made from a mix of goat and cow, an Italian soft cheese called Bra Tenero that seemed to marry mozzarella and feta, and a French sheep cheese called L'Ptit Basque that was creamy, nutty, and bold all at once. This particular trip resulted in 10 cheeses, and it easily could have been 30.
3. Duck products, including tubs of duck fat. If you've ever cooked with duck fat, you know what I'm talking about.
4. The specialty fish section - usually 5-6 kinds of smoked fish, including their pastrami salmon, which is amazing.
5. Dried mushrooms. Morels, porcinis, chantrelles, lobster mushrooms, Hen of the Woods, and so much. more. Reasonably priced, although morels are expensive no matter what.
6. Oils of all kinds, including amazing olive oils and truffle oils.
7. The selection of aged Balsamic vinegars. Hint: the $30 bottle in the plastic box is better than any of the $50 bottles.
8. Spices. Hawaiian Black Lava Salt. 9 kinds of ground chiles and peppers. 1 pound bags of mixed gourmet peppercorns. Red saffron in 2 gram jars. Dried shallots. And so on.
9. The bakery. The potato scallion bread will blow you away.
Really, if you like any kind of gourmet tea, coffee, meat, cheese, bread, candy, chocolate, etc., you owe it to yourself to take a trip.Listed in: 10 Fun Food Things to Do in…
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Review from Jeff L.
Boston, MA
5/14/2012
Really cool store. Best coffee selection I've ever seen. I highly recommend the Kenyan Iyego beans. To die for. Cool selection of kitchen gear as well. It's pricey, but if you catch them at their annual sale, which I believe is during the summer months, you can get some great deals. Awesome deli as well. Everything in this store is first class, I love their wide selection of All-Clad products as well.
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Review from Palak T.
Chapel Hill, NC
4/28/2012
Ah-mazing food and specialty shop. Puts Dean and Delucca and all others to shame. They have everything - gourmet chocolates, a great wine selection, fancy sea salts and almost every type of specialty food you can think of. They also have a great coffee shop and the restaurant is quite good. We bring every single out of town guest to A Southern Season - my brother comes every time to replenish the glasses from his wedding registry that he has since broken.
The awesomeness does come with a price - this place is not cheap. But you get quality products and service. The entire store is on sale in June and July and you can get some killer deals. -
Review from Don F.
O'Fallon, IL
1/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ok this is the foodie mecca. Bow and pray to it 5 times a day. Do it INFIDEL....
Anyway, they have an incredible number of items in this store. It is like a Sam's club for cooking paraphenalia. Never seen anything like it.
Alana at the chocolate bar, you heard that right, helped me with trufles, I came home with Chocolate and salt, Chocolate and Orange, and Chocolate with mimosa, and Ganache flavored trufles. They were better than Godiva. These were heavenly.
The tea selection is incredible. I could not comprehend the vastness of the selection.
The people here are exceptionally nice and accomodating. -
Review from Ha N.
Chapel Hill, NC
1/4/2012
I come here mostly for cheeses and deli meats. My favorite deli meats are the Di Parma prosciutto, Sweet Lebanon bologna and Topfzuel (??) head cheese. I've only seen that particular type of head cheese once though, and every time I've asked again, they said it's not something they order a lot.
For cheese, I recommend Cypress Grove Chevre cheeses, especially truffle tremor. It's very good in mashed potatoes or with apple slices . There are also Mimolette, Chipotle Cranberry Cheddar, and the Stilton with Mango and Ginger (tastes like you're eating a nice cheesecake filling).
For bread, I recommend the Potato Scallion Bread. But, you have to eat it relatively quickly. for desserts, the Tiramisu is great and the Lemon Charlotte Royal. -
Review from Kinjal P.
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
A gourmet store on speed!
This place is amazing. You can get everything from cookies to cookware to Vera Bradley hand bags. I was so impressed with how large and well organized this store was. I can honestly say I've never been to anything like it. If you are looking for a unique gift item this would be a perfect place to go. If you are looking for a place to spend a few hours browsing, this is also the perfect place to go. I was mesmerized by the different wine and beer selections and I had blast trying all the samples around the store.
We are very interested in going back for brunch so I'll definitely be updating my review post eating :) -
Review from Dale M.
Wilmington, NC
2/15/2012
This is a very close second behind Wegman's for amazing food/etc. destinations. It has everything, is well stocked with coffee/tea, prepared foods, cooking tools/utensils, place settings, wine, groceries and flowers. They should have apartments upstairs since this place is like a small village. I make sure I have plenty of time to wander and taste and look. Fellow foodies, heaven is in Chapel Hill.
PS. Yelp has the worst customer service on the planet. -
Review from Ann S.
Hillsdale, NJ
3/13/2012
This place is fun! It's like a mish-mosh of Whole Foods, Fairway, and a kitchen supply store mixed together. Huge selection of fresh teas and cofee. Massive chocolate/confectionary section (both self server and counter service). Prepared foods that look fantastic. Need a tea pot, wine glasses, or kitschy paper napkins for a party...no problem. Fresh flowers to take as a hostess gift...yep got that too. I enter an hypnotic state whenever I visit the place and have yet to walk out empty handed. If not for the limitations on baggage with the airlines I'd be walking out with a lot more!
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Review from Stephanie A.
Cary, NC
12/28/2011
**based on an internet order only**
I ordered a beer sampler pack to be shipped to my Dad in Illinois for Christmas. I had some questions about it just after placing the order and they were answered quickly and efficiently; very good customer service.
The beer itself, however, arrived late and the box was extremely beat up, but I am quite certain that was the fault of UPS and *not* A Southern Season.
I've yet to visit the store itself but I will sometime soon because I am so impressed with everything they offer. I could have easily done all of my holiday shopping on their website had I not already bought gifts elsewhere! -
Review from Tom K.
Durham, NC
2/20/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Had to stop by Southern Season to pick up some hors d'ouevres for a promotional event on Saturday evening. As usual the cheese selections available were mind boggling in diversity. I ended up with some old favorites, Shropshire Blue, Morbier, and Drunken Goat, as well as two more that I can't remember, but one was a German cheese that was awesome. Also got a small variety of salamis (picante and Hungarian) and a soppressata. When these items got to our event, they lasted less than an hour. You can't beat Southern Season for variety. Also got a bottle of port for a friend.
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Review from Jen S.
7/15/2011 ROTD 10/21/2011
I realized today I needed a sandwich, oil sprayer, purse, thai basil, greeting card, candy, wine, bright orange silicone spatula, and a cookie in the shape of a tarheel. Thank heaven for Southern Season.
I think this place was designed by someone who built rat mazes in a previous life. None of the aisles make sense, leading you to wander and toss more "essentials" into your basket as you go along. Ahhh, I see what you did there. But it makes me cringe a little when the cashier hits the total button. I seriously spent SO long in this store that as I was emptying my basket at the register I had already forgotten some of the things I put in along the way.
I'm not a gourmet chef but I play one every day at 6pm. This store gives me all the tools and ingredients for me to play the part ... right up until I put the burned roast on the table. -
Review from Gregory H.
Creedmoor, NC
10/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Me to my bride "We need to come back here some time"
my bride "Ya THINK???" but when we got to the check out counter her response changed to "Maybe we shouldn't make a habit of coming here too often!"
We had only just gotten to the hot sauce aisle by that time. We found wine, we found gadgets, we found hot sauces, spices, grilling accessories, varieties of teas, cheese, a deli counter, and my daughter found the candy! I tried habanero pickle slices and pepper jelly and sampled some smooth & tasty coffee.
The beer section wasn't particularly well stocked with the variety you might see at a world market, but it was worth looking over. The wines... oooh yes... we tried a few of those too.
I didn't know it before I got there, but I needed some Salvation Sauce, some sweet hot thai spices, and a variety of wines I'd never tried before.
I think I found a small slice of heaven on earth at A Southern Season, I have to admit I'm hooked and I need to go back to get my fix. -
Review from Scott K.
2/6/2012
For those who don't know this place. This is a expensive grocery store that got its start by a local family by selling gift baskets featuring any and everything North Carolina from food to items with the local college names. The store has morphed into the behemoth that it is today with huge aisles devoted to wine, cheese, coffee, tea, pasta, sauces, chips, flowers, jams, kitchen gadgets and a very large aisle of hot sauces. People, I could just spend hours upon hours roaming the aisles here. Oh yeah, by the way they also have a restaurant called "The Weathervane." Every Friday there are wine tastings and almost a daily occurrence are the cooking classes. The beer selection here is limited but just like much in this store are hard to find items. They also do have outdoor seating not associated with the restaurant were if you went to the deli and ordered a sandwich and they will make it in front of you, wrap it up and give it to you with a smile. After which I will pick up a "Boylan" root beer and eat my sandwich outside on a nice day. A Southern Season is more expensive, but oh so worth it. Because you are worth it.
Food A
Staff B
Location A
Environment A
Yes, they do give samples out. -
Review from John L.
7/15/2011 7 Check-ins Here
A Southern Season is the reason University Mall still exists. Yes there's a Gamestop, and a Dillard's. But really you're here for A Southern Season.
They have lots of stuff: spices, food, drink, college stuff, tea, coffee, a restaurant attached to them, etc. If you need something that's food-related (whether via preparation or food itself), it's probably at A Southern Season.
It can be pricey, buti f you go during sales, you can usually find a decent deal on something. -
Review from Diana X.
Durham, NC
7/27/2011
Their annual sales are probably some of the best sales in the area, in terms of gourmet foods and housewares. The selection is incredibly vast and is careful to contain something that appeals to at least every kind of person, whether it is a foodie or someone looking for quality local products.
Their teas were discounted to excellent prices during the 35th Annual Sale I went to ($2-$3/ 2oz.bag), and best of all, they also come in plastic packages with zip-locks that can be opened, so that you can smell the tea inside (and for me, this is usually a good indicator of how the tea will taste). My favoritestheir Manhattan Earl Grey & Thai Tea, which I have to say is better than more mainstream gourmet brands such as Harney & Sons. I'm curious to find out where Southern Season gets their tea. Their tea infusers were discounted too, to $3.96 each.
Dishes were some of the most steeply discounted, and I also got a bag of 10 Chauo Pods for only $3. This is only a taste of the kinds of great things in store (no pun intended). -
Review from Christine D.
Durham, NC
2/2/2012
Fabulous place to try gourmet everything! And their gift baskets are so much fun and very reasonably priced. They even have North Carolina-themed baskets with local goodies such as cheese straws, pecan cookies, taffy, tarheel-shaped cutting board, etc. It's fun to send to out-of-towners so they can get a taste of what they are missing! I always bring visitors here and they are just amazed... it should be on all tourist maps of the area!
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Review from Heather J.
Waterloo, IA
6/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Foodie store delight...whatever you may want they may just have! I picked up some ginger simple syrup, kind bars, and I wanted to pick up much more. From pots & pans to food to decorations...the list goes on. One could spend many a hours in here and not see everything.
A friend recommended this place to me stating it was her favorite kitchen store anywhere and I found out why. -
Review from Helena K.
12/29/2010 ROTD 6/7/2011
The best part about ASS is their free samples. Yeah, I've got a real Beavis & Butt-Head sense of humor, so that acronym makes me chuckle. But, no, really, look for those samples, like crackers and cheeses, wine and beer, chocolates and candies, and what all. Generally speaking, I go here hungry, and make several passes through the samples, and then leave with only buying one or two things.
That's because everything here is *absurdly* expensive. I don't visit ASS often because sometimes all those rich people wearing their pastel sweaters as they yak on their cell phones while driving their massive SUVs precariously through the parking lot make me want to tear my hair. And, my gawd, it gets so freakin' crowded here on the weekends. Agoraphobia attack! Oh, well, and I'm so rarely in CH these days, it seems. Maybe I would go more often if I lived there. But I doubt it.
That said, the stuff here is pretty rad. I grew up in Germany, so every trip to ASS is like a trip down memory lane. They've got a big walk-in beer cooler---takes up a whole room!---with all of my German favorites, plus a sampling of most every other beer you can think of from most every other country in the world. You can build your own sixers, too, but expect to pay something ridick like $4 a bottle. This is also a good place to buy wine, but I would visit any of the wine shops in Durham before I'd trek out to ASS for it.
Basically everyone else talked about all the awesome stuff they have here, so I'll focus on my favorite thing (besides the freebies and the booze): the salad bar. Their salad bar is my second favorite in the entire universe and I've been a vegetarian for twenty years, so that's saying a lot (#1 is Whole Foods, btw). They've got so many awesome (some local) veggies, cheeses, and olives, that I could just die and go to heaven. I always look forward to my couple-three annual trips to ASS if for no other reason than the salad. -
Review from Felecia B.
Chapel Hill, NC
Updated - 1/9/2011
I just wanted to write an update based on their online store. Having just moved to a state that none of my family had ever been to, we thought sending gift baskets with NC items would be a nice holiday gift.
I found the cutest gift baskets in the shape of North Carolina with a nice selection of food items, a history of the tarheel state along with a tarheel slip on bookmark. I got one for my parents and both great grandmothers and they all personally thanked me specifically for the gift and thought it was a really neat gift idea.
The online store was easy to order from and had a huge selection of gift baskets. I will divulge the cost of the baskets on here since my family won't read this but each basket was only $25. A very good value for the price and I received a ton of compliments.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/5/2010
I don't entertain often but you would think I do with my love affair I have with dishes. I must… Read more »
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Review from Candi K.
12/19/2010
For some reason, I always assumed that A Southern Season only carried foodstuffs. However, a coworker let me tag along with her during our lunch hour on a chocolate truffle run, so I finally got a chance to see that there is a LOT more here than gourmet Southern foods!
If you like to cook or eat or drink or entertain, this is your mecca. A huge selection of coffee. Massive amounts of cooking equipment! I would have thought that the prices would be high, but voila, bamboo cutting boards for like 80% off (that checked a few folks off my Christmas list). Then it was food of all sorts - a meat counter, more cheese than I could even identify, chocolates, shelf stable goods, a wine room, a beer room...need I go on? They even have a restaurant up front and a prepared foods section in back. Must go back ASAP for dinner one night as we didn't have time to stop for lunch.
Make sure to sneak a taste test or two :) -
Review from Andrew D.
Updated - 12/30/2010
I went pot rack shopping here once. I found a really nice stainless number that I then found online for MUCH cheaper.
Also, with 378 different flavors of coffee, none of them can be fresh.
BUT...
Go for the sales, especially wine. I just got a great pink Champagne - real Champagne, like Rob Lowe explains in Wayne's World - for $26.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/16/2010
Poor A Southern Season - for years they relied on the fat wallets of UNC parents, buying boiled… Read more »
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Review from Hope M.
Raleigh, NC
8/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
A Southern Season is an amazing store. It is a perfect place to get a gift for a foodie or someone who has it all. Whether it is food or food-related (e.g. - housewares and kitchen gadgets), they probably have it. They have a great selection of coffees, teas, wine, condiments and sauces. They have an entire row of mustard and another row of hot sauces! Of course, my favorite part of the store is their wall of chocolate bars from around the world and the display case with some of the most beautiful chocolates and truffles you can find in the area. They also have a very nice bakery and takeout section.
The store is definitely a bit pricey, but you can find amazing bargains if you go during one of their big sales. -
Review from Paige T.
12/12/2010
It could be as good as it gets, I guess, if you have the money to blow here, but I don't so, I'm just a fan. I am a fan of their samples of delicious cheeses and cookies that you pass by, here and there, throughout the store. I am also a fan of there amazing candy section where I just found a bunch of great stocking stuffers for all the little ones in my family. My husband always winds up buying sauerkraut and bratwurst from here, because apparently they have brands that you cannot necessarily find elsewhere. I don't know.
Their selections, from coffee and tea, to beer and wine, to cheese and sausage, to candy and desserts is so immense and overwhelming, though (and that is just food and beverage--they have kitchen and house wares, etc., to boot!), that I am almost glad that I am limited to the small amount of treasures I can afford. And you can find these treasures, if you look hard enough, especially when they have discount days, which I highly recommend taking advantage of! -
Review from Eric E.
Brooklyn, NY
1/5/2011
A while ago, a business colleague sent me a gift basket from A Southern Season. I live outside of the Southeast, so it's an unknown brand to me. This was truly the worst gift box I've ever received, or can even imagine! It was insulting. It was so bad I am tempted to tell him, but I don't want to hurt his feelings. I do not recommend wasting your money, this would reflect badly on any person sending it.
The box that I received reminded me of one of those boxes you pay too much money for on an airline flight, except at least those boxes have a proper proportion of cheese and crackers. In the completely undecorated box, was a loose collection of nuts, crackers and cheeses--in fact, they were so haphazardly thrown together that they were loose and sliding around in the box, and one of the bags of nuts was spilled throughout. One of the boxes of "goodies" contained exactly six crackers: and they were horribly stale. A can (??) of brie cheese and small block cheese were the only cheeses. The portions of snack mixes were of a sample size (2 oz. or smaller), and everything was bland. A perfect example of the joke "Waiter, this food is terrible, and why are the portions so small?"
As I said, I don't live in the South, so I can't say anything more about the store, but their gift basket was HORRIBLE. Better luck at the remainders discount store. -
Review from Jennifer B.
Durham, NC
1/4/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Such a fun place to visit and lose yourself in! There are so many types of cooking goodies and gadgets it is easy to get overwhelmed though. The prices are a bit on the high side though. The other complaint I have is that you cannot get produce here which is a bummer to have to stop at another grocery store.
If you like to cook and/or eat though this is your store. No where else in the triangle has such a wide selection.Listed in: Jennifer's Best of the…
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Review from Portia and Luis C.
Arlington, TX
Updated - 11/29/2011
11/29/2011
We went looking for post cards. They don't have any! We have looked everywhere around here and nothing! We did have the last (2) chicken enchiladas. They were covered in really good gooey cheese and only $3.99 each. We went back for another to take home to my daughter, but they were the last (2). Items in this kitchen paradise were high priced. It is fun to walk around in this store and see everything. We got some good coffee: Toasted Praline and Creme Brulee and a white tea with strawberry rhubarb. One of the disappointing things about this place is that they only have a few of their coffees in small packages. The other flavors of coffee outside of these require a $7.99 or $16.99 purchase. The cold salad side dishes were $8.99-$10.99/pounds. There was a large shrimp skewer was $24.99/pound. We went outside the store into the mall to sit on very comfortable cloth-covered wingback chairs to eat the enchiladas. There were not empty tables so we chatted with an elderly gentleman who was waiting for his wife to get her hair done at the salon. The mall was a lot busier than it was last September, but this is the Christmas shopping season. And although it was busy we did not hear or see the cash registers ringing.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/29/2010
We just happened in on this place when we were on our way to pick up our pizza from Alfredo's Pizza… Read more »
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Review from O G.
Los Angeles, CA
7/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
This is like Zabars, Surfas, Sur la Table, The Wine House and Heaven rolled into a gigantic warehouse of affordable perfection. Basically everything gourmet, cuisine and epicurean ever invented under one roof.
LA eat your heart out. Seriously.
If you ever think of moving and don't know where to go, move to Chapel Hill just to be near here.
Paradise - it exists! -
Review from Dawn S.
Woodland Hills, CA
2/10/2010
Holy crap, this place is like Disney World for foodies! If you love to cook (or just love to eat), this is a must-see stop when you're in town! It's about the size of a Best Buy, and is basically a gourmet cookstore, a chocolatier, a candy store, a high-end tea/coffee store, a card store and a gourmet food store...ALL IN ONE!
(BTW - I'm with Courtney W., I'm not saying anything that hasn't been said already about SS, I'm just trying to get them closer to the 5 stars they deserve!)
From what I've been told, they used to just do gift baskets, then opened up this store (a really big one, I might add) to let their customers shop with them, even if it's not a gift! They will also go above and beyond: if you are looking for a specific item and it's not on their shelves, just ask them and they will usually track it down for you (and buy some extras to put on the shelves, to see what the interest level is). That's service!
I really wish there were a store like A Southern Season in Los Angeles, but then again...I'm glad there isn't because I'd be broke! :)
5 shakas A Southern Season...A must-see pit stop for those visiting, and you can be sure I will be recommending your services to everyone I know who needs gift baskets!Listed in: Wanderlust Stops, The "Worthy" Ones, Shopaholic's Tour Guide
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Review from Charis G.
Cary, NC
8/20/2011
I've been going here for almost thirty years. The candy selection is amazing and they carry some really unique goodies! I LOVE the truffle cases and the bakery area is great too. Some of the stuff (like decorative items and cookware) is a bit pricey, but good quality. Their hot sauce slection is amazing. This store makes for a great place to get a treat or a gift for someone. A warning, though : it's a nuthouse around Christmas time!
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Review from Christopher K.
San Francisco, CA
1/1/2010
My father has raved about this store for years. I finally had the pleasure of visiting it recently. Screw those old Public Enemy lyrics. Believe the hype.
For those of you who might not know, A Southern Season is a legendary gourmet market. Their selection of cooking ingredients covers every major cuisine type, with a wide selection to help you make just about any crazy dish you see on the Food Network. Their expansive wine area features some of my favorite boutique Napa wineries like Regusci that you rarely see outside of California. Their candy selection would make Willy Wonka proud. Their tea selection would suit even the stuffiest of Englishmen.
Fire up some Bobby Flay on your DVR, make a shopping list, and get down here. Your dinner party guests will thank you. -
Review from mari h.
2/17/2010 27 Check-ins Here
If it's nice, and you need it to entertain, A Southern Season has it. And since everyone has touched on that aspect of the shop's awesomeness.
A Southern Season is (also) wonderful for a quick dinner, or lunch. They have an excellent salad bar, complete with olive bar and a few mixed salads (i.e. tuna, shrimp); a huge by the pound section; and soups, sandwhich station and hot bar that seems to have a bread pudding du jour.
The deli area has bacon you can get, cut by the slice, that is said to be "better than the bacon on my sandwich at Guglhupf." There's also a frozen section of local meats from Mapleview Farms and others nearby.
And just a note to anyone seeking a deal when things are on SALE! or otherwise. This is a store that has stuff you can't get ANYWHERE else without paying for shipping. I really appreciate having a gourmet store just down the road that has just about any cheese, chocolate, fancy salt, etc. my heart desires, even if I might have to have less of it to get it (since the super-fine things are sold by weight). There are deals to be had in here, but you won't find them if you're busy with the sticker shock.
I love this store. And when I moved to NYC, I missed the hell out of it. I also very much like calling it "ASS" when texting...and there's a large rooster on the roof.Listed in: Local is as local does, Sweets!, Lunch in Chapel Hill, Coffee!
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Review from Ron W.
9/11/2009 6 photos
How do you describe a one of a kind, Chapel Hill institution like A Southern Season? It's one of the biggest, gourmet stores I've been to with a huge selection of hard to find foodstuffs, cooking gear, decorative items, candies, cheeses and prepared foods. Walk in and I'm pretty sure you'll spend some time wandering the aisle-ways in amazement! The display cases are beautifully done and hard to resist, it's rare for me to come in the place looking for anything in particular but I always end up buying something.
During the holidays a visit to Southern Season is even more fun, the place is full of holiday shoppers and you can't go wrong here. They also do wine-tastings and cooking lessons from time to time. And if you're hungry, pop into their attached restaurant the Weathervane for a quick meal or snack. In the end if you enjoy and appreciate food, A Southern Season is a must-do while visiting the Chapel Hill area! -
Review from Harry P.
Chapel Hill, NC
2/21/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Your favorite gourmet shop - Super Sized! Seriously, it's like Whole Foods sized, but with a focus on gourmet specialty items. It's not a grocery store. Where it lacks in fresh produce it more than makes up for in the coffee, tea, wine, and beer selection. They've got a large selection of microbrews.
They're known for their candy. Especially their chocolate covered candy. It's usually my go to gift for folks from out of town. I also like their Chapel Hill toffee. They've even got a large case of sugar free chocolates - how that's possible I don't know. Something akin to Enron accounting I suppose.
They've got a large selection of prepared foods by the pound - deli style. They've even got a small bakery in there, preparing breads and desserts.
They've also got a lot of cooking equipment in there. A large selection of knives, pots and pans, and a couple aisles of kitchen gadgets to explore. Henkel knives, ceramic knives, garlic peelers, apple corers, Le Crueset, just to name a few things.
They've also got a lot of ethnic goods and imported foods. Found some chocolate biscuits from England - that was cool. And some cool salsas. It's worth just wandering the aisles to just see what's available.
Besides all this, they have a few hundred square feet devoted to what I'd call womanly stuff. Not maxi pads, but purses, scarves, and various feminine knickknacks. Not my bag, but I'm sure it does it for some. They've got a floral shop in there too.
Dang. This shop has a lot of stuff. And they do more! They've got wine tasting and cooking classes on a regular basis and featured in their newsletter. They usually bring in some hot chefs too, so it can be a different way to spend an evening.
It's also a great place to drop out of town family off for an hour and let them explore it. It's overwhelming.
Oh yeah, they've got a restaurant and cafe too!Listed in: New to Chapel Hill? Try these…
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Review from Nancy Y.
7/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
They carry a lot of specialty candle and skincare lines. You'll love this place if you're into kitchenwares or if you're looking for high-end dishware. The hot bar offers quality food with a distinct Southern twist. Also, great wine selection!
The things here are a little pricey, but a lot of the items you get here, you won't be able to find anywhere else. Great place to buy gifts for out of towners. -
Review from Sarah C.
Durham, NC
1/27/2010
Southern Season is a don't miss shopping spot for anyone visiting town or for those in the area who need a great gift or something a little different to make a meal special.
If you are hosting a dinner party, SS is the place to go. From amazing cheeses, deli meats, gourmet.. well anything, wines, coffee and teas, and desserts, to flowers, cookware, decorations, and plates, SS has you covered! You will impress your guests!
I must go off on a tangent here about my favorite section of SS; the chocolate/candy area! If you love gourmet chocolate, foreign candy bars, or even just a really good selection of Jelly Belly jelly beans, this is the place for you. I have on many occasions seen wide eyed children & parents (!) happily picking out one or two truffles, slices of gummies, or ornate little hand made candies in the shape of animals to devour on their trip around the mall. And, to the delight of some, they have a great sugar free chocolate section as well!
Across from the truffle counter is a section of hundreds of candy bars from all over the world. It's tons of fun checking out the different languages, packaging, and prices. A personal favorite are the bars that benefit the rain forest!
Despite the slightly high prices, A Southern Season is a favorite place to go. I used to work in the mall and would go to their hot bar for lunch, grab a chocolatey snack, get special things for parties, and look for gifts when I needed them. Everyone working there is super friendly and helpful as well, which is very important in my book. I say go often for a little treat, especially during one of their awesome annual sales! -
Review from Courtney W.
Chapel Hill, NC
1/18/2010
What on earth can I say about SS that hasn't already been said? I'll just try and get it closer to the five-star rating it deserves :)
Have you guys ever been to Dean and Deluca? That place looks like a drug store when compared to Southern Season. It's huge and filled to the brim with amazing foods, cookware and kitchenware, and wine. If I need an ingredient that I can't find in a typical grocery store or Asian market, I'll head to Southern Season to pick it up.
The only downfalls are that it's always busy. Always. Christmas here can be scary, but I brave it because I can knock my shopping out in one go. And it's a bit pricier, but if you're interested in good food, you know it's not always cheap. -
Review from Beth T.
1/9/2008
For food lovers, A Southern Season is Graceland, Disneyland, and any other place one might consider a mecca or shrine. It has anything and everything you would every hope to find in a specialty food store. Locally roasted coffee and fine teas. Huge wine selection. And my personal favorite....the packaged food section. Pancake mixes, flavored salts, specialty peanut butters, spiced specialty nuts, imported British and Asian specialties, handcrafted ice cream cones for pete's sake! The list goes on, and on, and on. And the best part - they have an annual sale where truly EVERYTHING in the store is on sale, sometimes as much as 50% off the original price. This is the event of the year, and truly an awesome time to stock up on the $16 Barefoot Contessa brownie mix you love but hate paying full price for.
Even though I now live in one of the greatest food cities in the world - complete with tons of Trader Joes, Whole Foods and independently owned specialty shops - nothing compares to A Southern Season. I will always pine for it and remember it as my favorite place to shop in Chapel Hill.Listed in: Dirty South
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Review from Melanie D.
Mountain View, CA
3/9/2006
I like Southern Season a lot. They have a beautiful variety of fresh flowers, every possible combination of grocery items you could think of, an extensive dishware and kitchenware selection and a HUGE chocolate and pastry aisle. I mean, really. Who could ask for anything more?
They really do have everything under the sun, but it'll definitely cost you a pretty penny to get it. Some of their home items are a little too elaborate for my tastes and their kitchen tools are extremely specialized and overpriced. When I go, it's definitely more for their edible products.
That said, I can't wait until I'm not a student anymore and can patronize this store on a more regular basis.
