Pimento cheese sandwiches are a Masters week tradition.
Because of that golf connection, it made sense to Ashley Willis to launch her new plant-based non-dairy PimenNo Cheese brand while the tournament was in town.
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“It’s made with cashews,” said Willis, who is taking orders for the spread and will deliver them at a pop-up event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 10, at Field Botanicals, 215-A 12th St. “It took me about six months to get it like I wanted it.
A trip to a poultry-processing plant 19 years ago led Willis to become a vegetarian. Her son, Kameron Waters, is a California-based filmmaker and vegan. His vegan lifestyle prompted her to become one too.
Willis said PimenNo Cheese is a great option for people who are lactose intolerant because it’s non-dairy. She made the leap to start selling the product after the good response she received from serving it to family and friends.
Even though it’s made with cashews, the spices she uses helps give it a taste similar to pimento cheese. She likes to spread it on bread and chill it in the refrigerator before she eats it, she said.
Willis said the product is a whole food item.
“It’s not processed. There are no chemicals,” she said.
PimenNo Cheese is just the beginning of plans for Willis who likes coming up with vegan options for people’s comfort foods. She and Elizabeth Szoka, who owns Bizzy’s Buns, a vegan cinnamon roll company, plan to join forces and operate as the Smith Sisters.
Willis said the two women have a lot of ideas and are excited about what the future will hold for them and their vegan brand.
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An eight-ounce container of PimenNo Cheese is $10 and can be ordered through Venmo @pimennocheese.
Willis said she plans more pop-up events in the future. She will post them at her Facebook page, facebook.com/pimennocheese or Instagram @pimennocheese.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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