If you haven’t visited Hampton Station in Greenville, SC yet, go ahead and put it on your bucket list. Located just minutes from Main Street and directly on the Swamp Rabbit Trail, it’s in a great location. Before you head there, we’ve got you covered on things to do, places to eat, and things you should do with your kids.
This article includes:
Things to Do at Hampton Station
Where to Eat in Hampton Station
Great Things Especially for the Kids at Hampton Station
Feed & Seed is a unique nonprofit in Greenville, SC that seeks to reduce food waste while producing excellent products for consumers and giving access to food to families who live in a food desert in Greenville.
Feed & Seed, located in Judson Mill right off the edge of downtown Greenville, is home to a fairly unique operation that only opened last year. And they are in that exact location for a very good reason: because it’s a food desert.
Feed & Seed wears many hats and I’ll tell you why a visit to them is a delicious idea.
Feed & Seed is a nonprofit located in the middle of a food desert in Greenville. The USDA defines a food desert as, “A tract in which at least 100 households are located more than one-half mile from the nearest supermarket and have no vehicle access; or at least 500 people, or 33 percent of the population, live more than 20 miles from the nearest supermarket, regardless of vehicle availability.”
There are more than 6,500 of them in the United States, including 21 in 14 different counties in South Carolina, according to the USDA. However, Feed & Seed is not a food bank but they certainly have in mind people in low-income areas who are struggling with food insecurity. The nonprofit went through miles of bureaucratic red tape to allow the use of SNAP (food stamps) to be used to buy their products.
They house a cafe where they sell local produce, meat, dairy, and their own housemade take-and-bake meals, as well as a cafe where you can order breakfast or lunch. I’ve had their Italian sub and wow, I’ve been dreaming of that deliciousness ever since.
They also work with local farmers to buy their produce and fruit, which is awesome because farmers often can only sell their goods on-site or during the farmers’ market season, which is only about a third of the year or even less sometimes. That’s a small window to stay in business.
Feed & Seed also hosts community events and has space for meetings, parties, or other gatherings.
Feed & Seed saw the need for fresh produce and local food and was founded to fill the gap between the people who need that and the people who provide it. That’s the reason for the location they chose and the idea took off from there.
The nonprofit partners with several local farms and others in the area who grow and produce that nourishing healthy food that everyone needs but may not have access to. They do that by buying produce directly from farmers, processing it themselves, and selling it right at their store.
Feed & Seed also has a program for Oconee County and Pickens County called FoodShareSC where boxes of fresh produce are sold for $20 cash or $5 EBT. Pickup locations are in Easley, Clemson, and Seneca. These boxes are filled with 10-12 varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables. Anyone can order a FoodShareSC box. In Greenville, Foodshare Greenville is run by Mill Village Farms.
You know how you have this grand idea of buying three heads of kale that you plan to cook the following week for your family and then, two weeks later remember it’s there and it really doesn’t look all that great? Or maybe you bought a bunch of peaches, put them in your refrigerator and found them a month later all moldy? OK, please tell me I’m not alone here. Americans waste an enormous amount of food. It’s truly awful and after I toured Feed & Seed, I was determined to make smarter choices in menu planning and remembering what I’ve bought and how to use it.
Feed & Seed steps in to help make sure that food waste doesn’t happen by buying produce, veggies, and fruit directly from farms and immediately making use of it so it doesn’t go bad.
Food banks are a necessary part of the community in Greenville but even they have limitations. With food banks, they often cannot keep enough fresh produce because they don’t have the necessary refrigeration and storage. At Feed & Seed, they have massive refrigerators plus have come up with ways to reduce food waste by freeze-drying and dehydrating fresh fruits and vegetables, which give them long-lasting staying power and significantly reduce food waste.
They also offer rental refrigeration to farmers who need a place to store extra goods. This is a huge service to smaller farms especially.
Feed & Seed sells a huge variety of local goods from honey to jams to dairy to meat to produce to coffee. I could have spent a ton of money there!
I really like that the nonprofit has such a laser focus on local food. Honestly, it makes me feel good to buy something I know was grown or produced right here in the Upstate because it goes right back into our local community.
The one thing I didn’t try was their take-and-bake meals and soups. They looked so good and I saw some of the chefs preparing lasagna while I was there on a tour and it looked amazing. I did have an Italian sub and cookie and both were delicious. It’s obvious the chefs take pride in their dishes. You can even order online to save time.
For many families with single parents, making healthy meals is a huge challenge. It’s these families, especially that Feed & Seed had in mind when they started to offer their ready-made meals that people can purchase and take home and heat up in the oven or microwave. They are nutrient-dense and provide a healthy alternative to fast food. SNAP benefits can be used to pay for these.
Feed & Seed also sells local produce bags for $15, which you can buy anytime you’re over there. If you love a good CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), Feed & Seed has a similar option with their Crop Box, which is a weekly box full of fresh fruits, vegetables, and produce that you can pick up once a week from March-May. It’s $30 or $45 per week depending on how big of a box you choose. This is a fantastic way to support local farmers.
As you may imagine, this operation requires a lot of effort and Feed & Seed needs a lot of volunteers to make their vision a reality.
Volunteers are needed to assist in packing boxes for their FoodShareSC program to feed families in need. You can see current volunteer opportunities on their website or sign up for their email newsletter to get all the information right to your inbox.
Volunteers must be 14 years old to give of their time at Feed & Seed and those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult age 18+.
Besides the box packing, volunteers are needed on local farms that Feed & Seed works with, to help with tax preparation, and to assist with events.
Obviously, Feed & Seed has a lot on their plate (no pun intended) and have chosen to tackle some pretty massive issues in the community. They truly hit the ground running when they opened and have only expanded as they have continued to seek to bring fresh food to everyone. Plus, they’ve got a really great thing going at their cafe and market, which I highly recommend you visit.
They are open Tuesday – Saturday 8 am – 5:30 pm. They serve breakfast those days from 8-11 am and then lunch is served 11 am – 2 pm.
Feed & Seed
701 Easley Bridge Road, Suite 6010, Greenville
864.412.4720
Love a good brunch and looking for great restaurants for a Spartanburg, SC brunch? There are a lot of restaurants in Spartanburg with brunch menus. How do you pick one? We asked our readers for their favorite brunch spots in Spartanburg and this list where they guided us.
Here are our readers’ favorite brunch restaurants!
Wondering what Bobby’s BBQ & Seasoning has to offer? Delicious barbecue in Fountain Inn, SC, that’s what! Learn all about Bobby’s BBQ & Seasoning right here, including some menu highlights you don’t want to miss. Seriously, we can practically taste this article.
But, wait.
You’ll also find Bobby’s BBQ on our list of Greenville’s Top 5 BBQ Places. So if you love BBQ, you’ll want to check that out, too!
When visiting Bobby’s BBQ, it doesn’t matter if it’s your first time or your 20th; you will be treated like family. Don’t believe me? How many other restaurants keep spare sets of infant clothes and diapers in both the men’s and women’s restrooms when a little guest has a blow-out?
Sarah Nelson knew if she ever owned a restaurant, she would help parents with things like that so they could enjoy a meal, even under the most stressful of situations. If you have ever been caught in a situation like that, you can appreciate the gesture. It’s just one way the Nelsons welcome diners, and why they’ve created a loyal fan base.
Owners – Tay & Sarah Nelson
Do you have a kid’s menu? Yes
What are your contactless delivery options? Curbside Pick-up
Do you offer outdoor dining? Yes – Open Air, Covered, Heated
What makes your spot unique?
We are a family-owned restaurant serving Texas-style barbecue. While most Carolina barbecue restaurants are known for their pulled pork and chicken, we specialize in brisket, housemade sausage, and smoked turkey breast. We love everyone who comes to the restaurant and try to make them feel at home. Everything is made from scratch, and all of our sides are adaptations of family recipes.
What dish is the most popular? Brisket
See Bobby’s BBQ Menu right here.
What dish are you the proudest of? Brisket, Housemade Sausage, Turkey, Cheesy Potato Casserole, Banana Pudding
It’s my first time at your restaurant, what do you suggest we order? Brisket or Turkey
Gifting Options – Gift cards
Learn About Other Local Restaurants We’ve Featured on Kidding Around
We Love Bobby’s!!!!
Erica K.M.The BEST local bbq is Bobby’s BBQ in Fountain Inn. Great sides, smoked turkey breast, brisket, sausages, even jackfruit for vegetarians. Community outreach by the owner. Never a bad bite!
AmyBobby’s BBQ. The brisket is insane! The turkey is so tender. The sides are ridiculous.
ElyseBobby’s BBQ & Seasoning
1301 N. Main Street, Fountain Inn, SC 29644 | 864.409.2379
Have you enjoyed a meal at Bobby’s BBQ & Seasoning? We want to know what you order when you go!
Find your new favorite restaurant.
Looking for a great burger in Spartanburg, SC? Spring has sprung, and nothing screams outdoor dining like a juicy burger and fries! Searching for a great burger in Spartanburg just got easier with our list of places to grab a cheeseburger with the family.
Are you looking for family-friendly breweries near Greenville and Upstate, SC? As the Upstate’s craft beer scene continues to grow, Kidding Around has tried and tested some of these breweries and found them quite family-friendly. We decided it’s high time to give parents a guide to places where they can kick back and enjoy their brews as their littles run around in the lawn. Here’s a list of breweries and taprooms that do just that. We’ve included their Instagram account handles so you can keep up with their latest events.
(Though these places welcome families, please use parental care when inside their premises. We don’t expect all of their bathrooms to have diaper-changing tables but a special shoutout to Brewery 85 that has changing tables in both restrooms!)
This article includes:
Breweries near you in Greenville, SC
Breweries near you in Taylors, SC
Breweries near you in Travelers Rest, SC
Breweries in Greer, SC
Breweries in Asheville, NC
Have you visited the quaint Stone Soup Cafe in Landrum, SC? The restaurant has beautiful comfortable seating indoors and out. We love the pretty garden-like setting outdoors, as well as the cozy and comfortable indoor seating. And, we loved the relaxed ambiance and friendly service. Here’s why you should add this spot to your list of great restaurants for a date night, or a relaxing meal out with friends and family.
From the minute you pull into the stone parking lot, after your drive down Main Street Landrum, you’ll feel like you’ve entered a little mini-vacation spot in the mountains. Surrounded by mature trees and pretty hanging lights you can choose to either dine indoors or out. Either way, you can enjoy a leisurely meal in a beautiful setting.
This place is the total opposite of busy city, downtown dining in loud buzzing restaurants. My husband and I have visited a couple of times for a date night, and each time is just as good, if not better, than the last.
Outdoors, and tables are set under shade awnings and a pavilion. There are both fans and heaters so the space can be enjoyed in a variety of weather. Indoors, cozy and comfortable tables are spread throughout a couple of smaller rooms of dining space with great big windows, allowing for easy conversation and a relaxed ambiance.
It is rather unusual for my husband and me, especially leaving the kids at home, to enjoy a drink, then an appetizer, a meal, and also stick around for coffee and dessert. But at Stone Soup we do because it was just that beautiful and relaxing. We probably spend an average of 2 hours on our date night meals Stone Soup. The service was wonderful and we never once felt rushed. In fact, our waitress suggested at the end of our meal that we just keep sipping our coffee and take our time.
All that and we haven’t yet discussed the food. The menu at Stone Soup includes a wide variety of wood-fired pizzas, sandwiches, unique appetizers, and entrees, plus cocktails, and a small selection of the day’s desserts.
We ordered (and highly recommend) the Tuna Bites for an appetizer. It was gorgeous and delicious. The tuna bites are black sesame-crusted Rare Ahi Tuna, pickled ginger, wasabi cream, chopped red peppers, and green onions, on top of the lightest, crispiest wontons you’ve ever seen or tasted.
We ordered the tuna bites again on a second visit, and they were just as delicious!
For our meals, we’ve enjoyed sandwiches like their salmon BLT and a woodfired calzone. The bacon on that BLT was some of the thickest and tastiest I’ve had while the salmon was cooked perfectly. The calzone was massive and could have easily fed two people, which it didn’t because my husband loves calzones and ate the whole thing. It was just that good.
Dessert isn’t printed on the menu, but just ask your server for what they are offering that day. We intended to get one dessert and share it, but, on the day we went, they had both peanut butter pie and a chocolate flourless cake that may as well have been fudge. So, we got them both and we had no regrets.
Stone Soup also carries a selection of housemade baked goods, deli salads, and specialty items that can be purchased in their market. They also have housemade frozen casseroles to pick up and bring home.
Stone Soup
1522 E. Rutherford Street
Landrum, SC
864.457.5255
Tuesday through Thursday 11:30 am to 8 pm
Friday 11:30 am to 9 pm
Saturday 11:30 am to 8:30 pm
Are you craving pizza? Greenville locals have told us where to find the best pizza around town. Peruse our list to find your new favorite pizza in Greenville, SC.
There are over 75,000 pizzerias in the United States and as a $36 billion a year industry, Americans are champions when it comes to pizza eating. They eat approximately 100 acres of pizza per day, which is a gorgeous picture to imagine.
The South is known for some exceptional cuisine but it’s the Northeast that takes the award for the best pizza, especially the New York/New Jersey region (I’m originally from NJ and lived in Rome for a time, which I’m proud to say makes me a pizza expert – this is the only thing I’m an expert at so let me have it). Most pizzerias claim they are NY-style pizza, which consists of a thin crust topped with a delicious tomato sauce and melted cheese.
One astute Kidding Around Greenville reader noted that when people get asked what their favorite pizza place is, it’s implied it is NY-style because “let’s face it, is the only style that really matters.” Well said, sir.
How about pizza for dinner in Spartanburg tonight? A home-cooked meal is always nice, but it’s also time-consuming. What is something that everybody in the family can enjoy and it can be made simply for picky eaters or with more exotic choices for adults? Pizza is a meal everyone can agree on and after all, National Pizza Day is February 9th, so go celebrate!
Looking for easy pizza recipe shortcuts for dinner with the kids? We can help you out with these kid-friendly pizza recipes.
I love pizza, as in I could eat it every day for the rest of my life and be totally happy with that. I’m also from New Jersey so I know what good pizza is. It’s the only thing I’m an expert and snob about so let me have it. That said, sometimes you need a good pizza fast to either satisfy those cravings or make something quick with your kids, who are also pizza lovers and will immediately come to eat dinner if there’s pizza on the table.
I grew up learning all kinds of pizza concoctions (again, #Jersey) so I’m going to share a couple with you here. They are easy and fun and can be customized to your own tastes. I demonstrated making most of these on Access Carolina if you want to see all the action.
This was a favorite of mine when I was little, partly because I could do it myself by the time I was in first grade.
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Directions:
I like to be a little more creative with these but again, do as you wish with the toppings and sauce.
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Pitas
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This is the easiest pizza dough to make but I don’t really measure ingredients so bear with me.
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Demonstrating pizza hacks with Access Carolina
This final recipe is really an ultimate pizza shortcut to make something that tastes like pizza but looks a little different. It’s super easy.
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Don’t want to make your own dough? No problem. Trader Joe’s and Publix both sell premade pizza dough.
Aldi also sells pizza that you only need to take home and bake, which is a great option if you want something easy but also something individualized since you can buy it and then add your own toppings when you go to cook it.
If you’re not sure what toppings to put on, almost anything (except pineapple – don’t do it) goes. I personally love arugula, kalamata olives, ricotta cheese + mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, onions, prosciutto, ham, mushrooms, and sausage.
I hardly ever make my own pizza sauce, although I really should try. America’s Test Kitchen has an amazing homemade pizza sauce recipe. You’ll have to get their cookbook to see it (you can borrow it from the Greenville Library). My mom also made the best white sauce, which was similar to an alfredo sauce. My go-to is pesto sauce, which I usually get from Trader Joe’s or Aldi. Don’t feel bad taking this shortcut for some tasty and easy sauces.
OK, now you know the pizza shortcuts so go make it happen!