TruBroth hits Travelers Rest
Meghan Salinas, Graphic Editor
Photo Courtesy: pixabay.com
Former San Diego coffee shop owners, Charlie Ngo and Lauren Tran have taken a leap of faith by believing in the power of a bone broth and Vietnamese style coffee/tea shop in Travelers Rest, S.C. TruBroth just celebrated its grand opening last month and this allows NGU students to have a healthier option while walking the streets of Downtown Travelers Rest.
Ngo stated, “TruBroth is whatever the community wants it to be. Our idea is to support the people that use the Swamp Rabbit Trail with a healthy option that people can pick up and go on the trail or continue hiking.”
The theme of this café is centered around nourishment and that’s exactly what surrounds the menu. From homemade broths, scratch-made pastries, coffee to Vietnamese teas, Ngo and Tran want to assure visitors that there is something on the menu for everyone.
Something that is also very interesting is that TruBroth is a laptop free zone, and Ngo and Tran hope to foster a deeper sense of community and camaraderie among customers.
Beverages center on oolong and green teas sourced from small farms in Asia, along with Vietnamese-style coffee, which can be made via pour-over method or drip method.
Food wise, TruBroth serves a variety of pastries such as steam buns, coconut macaroons and pate a chou for breakfast, while serving spring rolls, rice dishes and noodle soup dishes for lunch. The idea that sets this café apart is the variety of homemade broths that TruBroth has to offer guests. These broths are made of real bones sourced from local grass-fed cows and chickens, as well as traditional Asian herbs which takes a total of 15 hours to cook.
Ngo has spent 15 years working in health care, both as an Army medic and a nurse, so TruBroth has put him face to face with the effects of a poor diet and the power of overall health and wellness.
Their family fell in love with the Upstate after traveling the world, especially in the U.S. and Canada. After feeling discontent with their lives in California, Ngo decided to take a trip to the beloved city of Travelers Rest.
Lillia Callum-Penso, writer for The Greenville News stated, “Ngo spent eight days sleeping in his car, eating from the cooler and breathing in sights of new places. He fell in love with the Upstate immediately by finding joy in the kindness of people he had met and Travelers Rest’s pure beauty.”
TruBroth is at 36 S. Main St., Travelers Rest. The café is slated to open in March. Hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Follow along on Facebook. Come and stop by for a unique experience that will satisfy all cravings.
