about us
Mission statement
Our mission is to bring Caribbean flavors to a town near you. Along with making island dishes accessible with some vegan variations, we want to highlight Black culture across the diaspora and celebrate the contributions of African ancestry. By showcasing young, black entrepreneurship, we hope to inspire our peers and the next generation to take the leap and build something that everyone can enjoy.
Why We Do What We Do
Vansauwa's Tacos is inspired by the flavors, sounds and sights of the Caribbean that many people only taste on vacation to the islands. At Vansauwa's Tacos, we combine the Bajan heritage of head chef and co-owner Zirconia Alleyne Vansauwa with the spice of the company's namesake, co-owner and flavor king Desaepa Vansauwa. Together, the Vansauwas (pronounced Van-swah) bring you creative tacos and vegan dishes your conscience will be glad you chose.
Our Story
Vansauwa's Tacos and Vegan Eats started from the kitchen of Zirconia's southern mother in 2018, where Desaepa (pronounced Duh-sep-ay) sought out to make jerk chicken up to the standards of Zirconia's Bajan father who regularly prepared the dish in his home.
Once solidifying Vansauwa's Jerk Marinade, the pair decided to make jerk chicken tacos with this spicy sauce as well as pineapple-mango salsa and crisp red cabbage slaw.
After testing out their jerk chicken taco with family and friends across the country, the couple accidentally booked their first festival event. They rushed out to purchase a popup tent, a Blackstone griddle and coolers to keep everything cold until cook time.
The Caribbean taco tent turned out to be a hit, with customers waiting in long lines just to get a taste of their creation. Zirconia's dad even hopped on the prep line during that first event to quickly slice and dice fresh mangoes and to show them how it's really done on the grill.
Since that day in spring 2018, Vansauwa's Tacos and Vegan Eats has grown into a self-sustaining food trailer with plans to build an upscale container restaurant and rum bar in upcoming years.