By Richard Fairbanks
TAMPA – Sweet Soul is a new ice cream shop that opened in the South Howard neighborhood in early February. It is putting a new twist on a classic recipe.
The restaurant serves only vegan treats, including dairy-free soft serve and paleo smoothies. Everything found at the store is natural; a way for customers to maintain a healthier lifestyle while enjoying what they love. For managing partner Taylor Winter, it’s a way to share her love of all things healthy with others.
“This is the way I always eat,” said Winter, “so I wanted everyone to eat off cellules and be healthy, and just have refreshing foods they won’t feel guilty about.”
Dairy in the soft-serve ice cream has been replaced by a coconut base, while sugar has been replaced by honey, dates, and agave. Products are lactose-free, gluten-free and soy-free. Customers can also choose from smoothie flavors such as acai blends, dragonfruit, and maple vanilla overnight oats, as well as soft-serve like matcha and vanilla bean charcoal—the latter of which is reportedly beneficial for those suffering from hangovers.
Sweet Soul also offers an extensive custom menu, or “soul bowls,” which includes a base and natural toppings ranging from fruit and dark chocolate to granola, bee pollen, and hemp seeds.
“Everything is built your own,” said Winter. “A lot of acai bowl places, they just have one custom bowl, but now… all the customers can build their own bowls.”
The store, located on South Howard Avenue, is owned in part by the Ciccio Restaurant Group, a company that owns several businesses in the area. Since its opening on Feb. 5, 2018, Sweet Soul has seen enthusiastic turn-out, with an estimated 300 guests a day during the weekend.
Winter was surprised that even children were enjoying their unique culinary twists—proof that all-natural, healthy desserts can still be delicious. Visitors’ favorites include the vanilla bean charcoal soft serve, the health nut smoothie and the “PB and C,” which is a chocolate peanut butter blend.
Sweet Soul also boasts an organic garden on-site, where they grow organic herbs and even house a chicken coup, from which they collect eggs.
“I don’t really know what we’re going to do with them,” Winter said. “But it’s really cool everything is local.”
The success of the first month has already prompted plans for further growth: Sweet Soul will expand in both store size and culinary offerings, creating a new menu that will include breakfast, lunch, and dinner—all staying within the confines of a natural, vegan diet.
New offerings already being considered include avocado toast, hummus toast and more.
“A ton of [different] items where people can just come for lunch, they can come for breakfast, they can come for dinner,” Winter said.
New hours for the store will be 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Sweet Soul will be closed on Mondays.
For now, the newest vegan ice cream shop in town will continue to provide a modern twist on the average dessert fare.
“I want [customers] to leave with a smile on their face and just know they’re living a healthier lifestyle,” Winter said.
This was created by Richard Fairbanks for Jeanette Abrahamsen’s Advanced Reporting class in 2018.
