Who says you can’t be vegan in South Carolina? While the Carolinas are known for barbecued critters, I ate so much vegan food in Greenville I felt like foie gras goose. Okay, that’s a gross simile for a vegan. But let’s say I was extremely well fed on my Greenville vegan walking tour with VV Spot.
I took the West Greenville tour led by DeAndra Reasonover-Winjobi. This vegan dynamo has worked in the health field for more than a decade. She has a master’s degree in health promotion, education and behavior and is also a personal trainer. DeAndra started leading vegan food tours as a way to showcase her favorite local restaurants while promoting healthier food choices.
Greenville vegan tour stops
Our first stop was Coastal Crust, where we had arugula salad and pizza. This wood-fired pizzeria has a few locations around South Carolina. And a fabulous oven.
Next we stopped at Kuka Juice. Everything on this juicery’s menu is vegetarian, and most is vegan. We had taco salad and a grown-up grilled cheese, made with vegan cheese on artisan bread. Kuka offers a big juice menu and what I really had my eye on, the vegan cheesecake.
I’ve been on food tours where you have a bite here and a little appetizer there as you walk from spot to spot. This is not that tour. Show up HUNGRY as you’ll encounter whole pizzas and trays of food to try.
DeAndra likes to include a few non-food stops in her West Greenville tour, such as galleries and the Greenville Center for Creative Arts, which is in an old mill.
South Carolina was a textile-producing state, and Greenville was the capital of its production. We toured the old building, looking at art and standing on the now-deserted factory floor, contemplating the workers who used to toil here. DeAndra pointed out footprints in the old floor—apparently supervisors were so rooted to the spot overseeing workers that their footprints persist. “So they really did just stand the whole day. I was like, really? That was a job back then?” DeAndra juggles several lines of work plus motherhood. No standing around for her!
Farmhouse in the city
Our last food stop was Carolina Bauernhaus. I was pretty stuffed by then so hung out in a hammock chair waiting to grow a second stomach. Co-owner David Thornton brought out plates of pickled vegetables, pretzels, and some really delicious pizza. Plus kombucha and barley water for the nondrinkers, and beer for those who wanted to try that.
“Bauernhaus is German for farmhouse,” Thornton explained. “And farmhouse is our philosophy. Regionally grown, seasonal ingredients in all of our beer, cider, kombucha, fermented foods.” Vegan fan favorites? Their salted brewer’s pretzels made with olive oil and served with mustard made from jalapeno beer. Plus, their pickle boards, which change seasonally.
Book your Greenville vegan tour now
As I mentioned, DeAndra is a busy gal. She plans to run her tours this summer, and possibly beyond. If you’re going to be in Greenville, I highly recommend contacting her now and seeing if you can join a tour. It’s like having a friend show you all her favorite vegan spots in town while giving you the low-down on Greenville.
