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Early Girl Eatery
8 Wall St. Hours Hankering for some of the best vegan Southern cooking around? Then hightail it to the always excellent Early Girl Eatery, located in the heart of hip and humane Asheville, North Carolina. Owned and operated by husband-and-wife team John and Julie Stehling, the Early Girl Eatery is a sunny, simple place, decorated with a cheerful combination of hanging plants, local art, and home-canned goods. John, a chef who grew up eating directly from the garden, considers himself very much a product of North Carolina and the South, which is why locally grown produce—organic whenever available—constantly crops up on the menu. ![]() Speaking of the menu, there's no better way to start the day than with a heaping helping of Early Girl Eatery's tofu scramble and homemade vegan sausage, stone-ground grits with tomato gravy, and a tall glass of orange juice or organic soy milk. Lunch options include the toasted-almond and ginger salad with fresh vegetables and diced oranges (Early Girl's most popular vegan selection), the bean burger with eggplant spread, the avocado and fresh sprouts sandwich, and a vegetable plate with your choice of hoppin' john, baked lima beans, or Carolina coleslaw. Must-haves on the dinner menu include the sesame-tofu salad, sweet potato pone, and the seasonally available stick-to-your-ribs veggie chili. |