Groceries, Private Chefs and Catering in Highlands, NC

A big house means a big kitchen, and for most groups the best meals of the trip happen at home. Highlands is small, but between the grocery stores, a 75-year-old butcher counter and a handful of caterers, you can feed 20 people well without driving far.

Groceries in town

Dusty’s Rhodes Superette marked 75 years in 2026. Its butcher shop is the reason locals shop there. Call ahead if you want 20 steaks cut to the same thickness.

The big-box run: Ingles in Cashiers

For a full stock-up at supermarket prices, the closest large supermarket is Ingles at 230 Highway 64 East in Cashiers (828-743-3801). It is about 25 minutes from Fairview House on US 64. Many groups make one Ingles run on arrival day for staples, paper goods and drinks, then shop in Highlands for meat, bread and anything fresh. On the same trip, Cashiers Farmers Market (78 US 64, 828-743-4334) sells produce, local jams, fresh-baked pies and barbecue from its On the Side take-out window.

Bakeries and wine

• Edelweiss Pastry Boutique (892 N. 4th St, 828-200-2700) makes custom cakes and chocolate pieces. Order birthday or anniversary cakes well ahead.
• The Baked Bunny (177 Main St) sells pastries.
• Calders Coffee Cafe (384 Main St) takes bulk to-go orders for coffee and bagels.
• High Country Wine & Provisions (621 Franklin Rd) and Highlands Wine Shoppe (269 Oak St) sell bottles to take home.

Private chefs

These are the chefs our guests have used. Book them early. Peak weekends and holidays fill months out.

• Richard Cooper, private chef. cooperrichard9@gmail.com, 501-765-9466
• Ken Naron, private chef. ken@envienc.com, 225-573-6093

When you reach out, give the chef your head count, any allergies, the kids’ ages and if you want plated or family-style service. Ask them what they need from the kitchen and whether they shop or you do.

Caterers and take-home meals

• Highlands Smokehouse catering. Contact Catering Director Leslie Lewis at 828-526-3554. Barbecue is the easiest meal there is for a crowd. Catering runs from a drop-off lunch to a fully staffed party.
• Kitchen Carryaway & Catering, 828-526-2110 (348 S. 5th St). Take-out and catering a few blocks from the house.
• Rhodes Superette, 828-526-2762. Deli trays, prepared meals and custom meat orders.
• Highlands Burrito (226 S. 4th St, 828-526-9313) caters build-your-own taco and burrito spreads. Kids and picky eaters will be happy.
• Rosewood Market (828-526-0383) takes special to-go orders and catering.

Feeding 20 people for a weekend: a simple plan

This plan assumes a Friday arrival and a Sunday departure, with one cook-at-home night, one catered night and one night out.

1. Two weeks out. Book the private chef or the caterer, and any restaurant table for 12 or more. Order a celebration cake. Put together a shared sign-up list for breakfasts and assign one family per morning.
2. One week out. Call Rhodes Superette with a meat order for the grill night. Place a Smokehouse or burrito catering order for Friday so nobody cooks after the drive.
3. Friday. The catered dinner is delivered or picked up. One car makes the Ingles run in Cashiers for staples, breakfast supplies, snacks, water and paper goods.
4. Saturday. Coffee and bagels from Calders. Pack picnic lunches from Bryson’s deli or Mountain Fresh for a waterfall outing. Grill at home in the evening, or bring in the private chef.
5. Sunday. A big breakfast at home with leftovers, then a clean-out of the fridge before checkout.

Shopping math for 20 people: plan on roughly 2 dozen eggs and 2 pounds of bacon per breakfast, 8 to 10 pounds of pulled pork or brisket for a barbecue dinner, and more coffee than seems reasonable.

Alcohol: what to know in Highlands

• Grocery stores in town, including Bryson’s and Rhodes Superette, sell beer and wine.
• Liquor is sold only at the Highlands ABC store, 322 Oak Street, open Monday through Saturday. North Carolina ABC stores are closed on Sundays. A 2026 proposal to allow Sunday ABC sales was dropped from the bill in committee, so plan to buy liquor by Saturday evening.
• If your caterer runs a bar, ask how they handle alcohol service before you buy anything.

The kitchen at Fairview House is built for crowds, but you do not have to cook every night. For restaurant nights, see where to eat in Highlands.