ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Halfway through the first month of the new year, many of us might be checking off our New Year’s resolutions and doing our best to stay on track. Whether you’ve committed to taking more steps in nature or eating less animal products, now is a good time to reassess your goals.

January is a busy month! Also known as “Veganuary” and “Dry January”, both terms coined by charities in the UK, these campaigns have grown in popularity and have made their way into our daily lives. Whichever path you choose, West Village Market is here to support you in your new journey.

As a new resident to Asheville, hailing from Philadelphia, and now a West Village staff member, I was pleased to discover West Village Market back in April 2024. It was the first market I stumbled into, walking along Haywood Road, during my first week in town. I was delighted to find so many delicious vegan sweet treats from local bakers spread across the checkout counters. This is how I was introduced to Back Porch Baking, a local, fully vegan, wholesale bakery that delivers to markets, like West Village and neighborhood coffee shops.

One of my favorite features of the market, includes three dedicated refrigerators and freezers for all vegan and plant based products. The freezers are clearly labeled as such: vegan frozen goods, plant-based dairy, and vegan refrigerated goods. With this in mind, let’s take a store tour and walk down the aisles together so you can prepare for your next veggie meal!

First and foremost is the Produce Department. West Village prides itself in carrying the best in local and organic produce from North Carolina farms and beyond. Personally, one of my favorite things about being vegan is veganizing familiar recipes and using vegetables to create unique dishes. Did you know you can use a cauliflower or rutabaga to make a cheese sauce or dip? Or how about thinly shaved roasted golden beets or carrots for lox? It’s all about the seasoning and preparation that elevates an ordinary vegetable into a gourmet dish!

The West Village Deli might be one of Asheville’s best kept secrets, but not anymore! The kitchen produces a robust variety of sandwiches, soups, wraps, salads, and desserts, with numerous plant-based options. Ask any frequent shopper, and they will tell you how much they love the breakfast burritos! Don’t sleep on the burritos, though, because they move quickly, and once again, there’s a vegan option available, too.

Let’s head over to the refrigerated section. As aforementioned, the majority of our frozen and refrigerated vegan products are in special cases with obvious labels. This is where you can find dairy alternatives such as the delicious local cheeses from Dare, or meatless options, like the local Smiling Hara tempeh. We carry Beyond, Gardein, Tofurky, Field Roast, Violife, Miyoko’s, Oatly, Just Egg, and Dr. Praeger’s products, to name a few. There are plenty of options for those who are gluten free or who have a nut allergy. If you peek around the other frozen foods sections, you’ll find Daiya or Blackbird frozen pizzas and Amy’s frozen burritos and meatless entrees. Additionally, be sure to check the specialty dairy case for vegan gourmet cheese by Rebel Cheese, out of Texas.

Remember, spices and seasonings make all the difference in your cooking! Don’t skip our Bulk Department for dried herbs, medicinal herbs, and teas. Plus, buying in bulk saves you money and reduces the use of plastic and packaging, especially when you bring your own jar. A win-win all around!

The fresh baked goods sitting near the registers are not to be forgotten. West Village carries unique baked goods from the all vegan bakery, Back Porch Baking Co, along with favorites from vegan-friendly bakeries, Eat More Bakery, and Sweetheart Baking Company. Both Eat More and Sweetheart offer select gluten-free, vegan goods, as well.
While we’re on the topic of sweets, you’ll notice the ice cream case as soon as you walk in the door! There are plenty of non-dairy options to choose from, such as Oatly, Cosmic Bliss, Van Leeuwen, and So Delicious. GoodPops are also stocked in the case for your popsicle fix. It’s never too cold for ice cream!

West Village Market is stocked with snacks galore! Whether you have a sweet tooth or prefer salty eats, we’ve got you covered. Peruse the shelves near the first register and you’ll likely locate a bunch of vegan chocolates and candy. More guilt-free options that are reminiscent of childhood favorites, like Justin’s peanut butter cups or Go Max Go’s chocolate bars. Back by the vegan fridges and beverages, check out the shelves for Vegan Rob’s cheese and cauliflower curls, Lesser Evil popcorn, and Brad’s Kale Chips, along with other salty snacks. Don’t worry, we also carry healthier goodies like nuts and dried fruit, which can also be found in our Bulk Department.

Last but not least is our adult beverage selection. You might not associate veganism with alcohol but there is a filtration process that makes a wine or beer vegan. Some alcohol is processed using gelatin, milk protein, egg white, insinglass (fish bladder), and casein. These are known as “finings”; they’re used to attract sediment, for clarity. A few safe bets are RAW WINE, which is a certified vegan wine brand. We stock our shelves with a white and rosé in the refrigerated wine case, along with a red on the shelves. Gaia and Bousquet wines are both vegan friendly. Select wines by Fuenteseca are considered vegan-friendly, with a certified label on the bottle. Barnivore is a great online resource to research whether your favorite alcoholic beverage is vegan or not. In the spirit of Dry January, Le Naturel Zero Zero is an alcohol-free, wine, certified vegan, that boasts all the flavor, aroma, and texture of quality wine, without a single drop of alcohol. These are stocked near our wine and beers. Bottoms up!

This concludes our vegan store tour! We hope you’ll consider shopping at West Village Market for all your plant based needs in the future. Whether you’re giving Veganuary a try or cutting back on your dairy and meat consumption, the market has plenty to offer. It can be daunting if veganism is completely new to you but remember, our staff is here to help you! I love talking about recipes and all things food-related, so ask for Jeannine next time you stop in, and I’ll be happy to point you in the right direction. I celebrated my nine year vegan anniversary this year so I certainly believe in the power of setting goals. To learn more about Veganuary and for helpful resources, visit https://veganuary.com/en-us/.
Below is my favorite go-to dip recipe. My omnivore family and friends rave about it. It’s really easy and doesn’t require much chopping, another plus! Make it for upcoming Super Bowl parties and impress your guests with a new plant based recipe. Compliments to the Savory Vegan for the recipe:

Vegan Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 12 ounces artichoke hearts chopped into bite sized pieces (or just mash once in the pan)
• 4 cups baby spinach
• ¼ cup vegan mayo (I like Vegenaise)
• 8 ounces vegan cream cheese (try local brand Dare or Oatly cream cheese, both sold at the market!)
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ¼ cup vegan parmesan (optional)
• Pita chips or tortilla chips for serving (swap veggies for a healthier serving)

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute, stirring frequently. Add artichoke hearts and spinach and sauté until spinach is wilted. Add the cream cheese, mayo, garlic powder, salt & pepper and stir to combine.
• Transfer to a baking dish, top with parmesan and bake in the oven for 5 minutes. Turn oven to broil and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes, or until the top begins to brown.
• Remove from the oven and serve with bread slices and/or tortilla chips.

See you at the Market!