Dyersburg, TN – May 11, 2026 - Based out of Hopkinsville, KY, Vansauwa’s Tacos and Vegan Eats has been bringing Caribbean-inspired flavors to communities across the country since hitting the road in 2018. Founded by husband-and-wife team Desaepa and Zirconia Vansauwa, the business has earned a reputation not only for standout food, but for creating an experience customers remember long after the meal is over.
Desaepa says the business was born from a desire to stop working for others and instead build something meaningful for their family’s future. Since launching the food truck, the couple has welcomed two sons, Noir (4) and Nysir (2), who now travel alongside their parents as the family takes their business across the nation.
The Vansauwas have traveled as far east as Miami, FL, and as far west as Pasadena, CA, introducing new communities to their signature blend of Caribbean flavors and hospitality. Desaepa says he hopes the journey inspires an entrepreneurial spirit in his sons as they grow up watching their parents build a business from the ground up.
The menu itself is personal and rooted in family. Inspired by Zirconia’s heritage, many of the dishes reflect recipes and flavors she grew up around. Her father, a native of Barbados, regularly prepared jerk chicken at home, helping shape the flavors that now define the family business. Their signature jerk chicken tacos deliver the heat without overpowering the dish, creating a balance that keeps customers coming back.
Standing on the quality of products they serve, the Vansauwa’s want customers to walk away from each experience with a meal that makes them come back for more. Each customer is asked to ring the First Bite Bell if their meal meets their standards. If not, the Vansauwa’s ask only for an opportunity to fix any errors with their service and be given a second shot to make the experience right.
The couple says they stand firmly behind not only their food, but also their mission of “bringing Caribbean flavors to a town near you, along with making island dishes accessible with some vegan variations.”
Another important part of the Vansauwa mission is to “highlight Black culture across the diaspora and celebrate the contributions of African ancestry.”
“We’re the sizzle of the steak,” said Desaepa. “When you are at a restaurant and see a waiter walk by with a meal that smells good, looks good, and makes you want to order it for yourself…that’s us. We want everyone to feel that way about our food.”
Desaepa says one of the greatest rewards of owning the business has been the opportunity to be a present and involved father. Running the food truck has allowed him to pour into his children in ways a traditional job may not have made possible.
He also says one of the things he values most about life on the road is the chance to connect with new people and experience different communities. For the Vansauwa family, the journey has become about far more than food, it has created a sense of purpose, fellowship, and connection in every community they serve.
You can follow Vansauwa’s Tacos and Vegan Eats online or find their next stop through StreetFoodFinder.
About The Mill Workspace: The Mill Workspace, a DBA of Northwest Tennessee Entrepreneurship, Inc., is a nonprofit 501(c)3 entrepreneur center located in Dyersburg, TN, and focused on serving entrepreneurs in the nine counties of Northwest Tennessee. They help businesses through one-on-one counseling, workshops, and multi-week programs, all designed to help businesses in the region start up and grow.
Programs at The Mill are funded in part by a grant from LaunchTN.
