Discover the “Queens of Cuisine,” A New Women-Led Culinary Trail in Greenville, SC
Discover Greenville, SC’s new "Queens of Cuisine" Culinary Trail, highlighting the inspiring female chefs, bakers, and restaurateurs shaping the city’s fantastic food scene! Image: Keipi / VisitGreenvilleSC
If you need an excuse to plan a fun food-centric trip to Greenville, South Carolina, consider this your sign.
The city’s already buzzy culinary arena just got even more exciting with the launch of the “Queens of Cuisine” Culinary Trail, a curated path highlighting the women behind some of Greenville’s most memorable restaurants, bakeries, and cafés. (And just in time for Women’s History Month, which was in March!) Executive chefs, pastry pros, owners, kitchen leaders … these aren’t women who are sitting on the sidelines of Greenville’s rise as a dining destination; they’re building it from the ground up. Talk about girl power!
Greenville’s culinary momentum didn’t happen overnight, but the recognition has truly been a long time coming.
So, what sparked the idea for the “Queens of Cuisine” Culinary Trail, and why launch it now? “Greenville’s culinary scene is gaining national attention, and we saw an opportunity to intentionally recognize some of the women helping shape it,” explains Beth Moats, Vice President of Marketing & Communications for VisitGreenvilleSC. “Women’s History Month created a natural moment to launch a trail that highlights their talent, leadership, and impact in a visible, consumer-facing way.”
In other words, the talent has always been there. And now, it’s finally getting the spotlight it deserves.
What makes the trail so compelling is how organically it connects story to experience. There’s an interactive map to guide your way, so you can chart your own delicious course, bouncing from one woman-led spot to the next and moving at your own pace. You can essentially build a day (or weekend) of standout stops — coffee, pastries, lunch, dinner — following wherever your appetite leads.
One standout aspect of this trail is that it isn’t about a single type of chef or cuisine. It’s really a celebration of women bringing their own perspectives, cultural backgrounds, and flavors to the table. From globally inspired menus to hyper-local, farm-driven fare, these women are creating a restaurant roster that’s wildly dynamic.
For example, you’ve got chefs like Khailing Neoh, who left an engineering career to open Greenville’s first dedicated dim sum spot, Sum Bar, after a series of sold-out pop-ups. Dayna Lee-Márquez, a James Beard semifinalist, brings bold, deeply personal Mexican-American cuisine to Comal 864, with dishes inspired by her heritage and experiences.
And there’s plenty to swoon over in the dessert department, too.
At Soby’s New South Cuisine, pastry chef Tarciani Harger approaches her work with artistic flair. Her earlier career in fashion informs her process, resulting in visually striking, beautifully composed sweets. Executive pastry chef Lindsay Beck of CAMP takes a nostalgic approach to desserts, reworking familiar flavors in thoughtful ways (including sprinkles made from scratch!).
And at LaRue Fine Chocolate, Elizabeth Logan McDaniel creates confections that have earned national recognition, including the title of “#1 Chocolate Shop in America” by USA Today.
“It starts with the caliber of talent here,” shares Beth. “Greenville has chefs and restaurateurs creating experiences that are high quality, distinctive, and rooted in a strong sense of place. That has been reinforced by local support, growing visitor interest, and national recognition, including MICHELIN honors and a Wine Spectator Grand Award, along with broader visibility through Top Chef Carolinas.”’
Which brings us to the best part: The “Queens of Cuisine” Culinary Trail isn’t something to simply admire from afar. It’s meant to be explored and savored by the rest of us.
And so far, it seems to be landing well. “The response has been strong,” Beth says of the trail’s early reception. “People are excited to see women in the culinary space recognized more intentionally. Their talent and leadership have helped shape Greenville’s culinary identity for years.”
This trail is celebratory and long overdue. Because behind every tasty dish, thoughtfully designed menu, and perfectly baked pastry, there’s a woman making it happen.
Click HERE for a full list of the chefs and food artisans on Greenville’s “Queens of Cuisine” Culinary Trail. And keep checking back for more additions!
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Jenna von Oy Bratcher
Jenna von Oy Bratcher is StyleBlueprint's Associate Editor and Lead Nashville Writer. The East Coast native moved to Nashville almost two decades years ago, by way of Los Angeles. She is a lover of dogs, strong coffee, traveling, and exploring the local restaurant scene bite by bite.