Black Bean Co. offers dream food for a healthy eater

Black Bean Co. uses unprocessed, natural foods to create vegan and power wraps and gyros, just good-for-your-body type stuff.

And now they've got two locations. Hey, good for their business. Better for our appetites.

The first shop opened on Spring Street downtown in September 2010 with the second following on James Island in March of this year. The latter branch sits off Folly Road, drive-thru included, as a fresh refuge among several fast-food eateries.

Behind both ventures? Ellis Grossman, a forward-thinking graduate of the Culinary Institute of Charleston.

The James Island restaurant, just like its downtown twin, speaks to local foods, getting 80 percent of its produce from Thackeray Farms on Wadmalaw Island. Black Bean Co. pulls and plucks from energy sources, infusing its wraps, gyros and salads with such foods as sunflower seeds, almonds, mushrooms, snow peas, carrots, yogurt, mango salsa and, of course, black beans. All are rich in vitamins B1, B2 or B6.

Most of these combos, I'd never consider. But then again, these guys are professionals, though they would probably advise trying this at home.

Just take the Almost Summer wrap ($10), a sweet blend of Mandarin oranges, candied almonds, goat cheese, rice noodles, chicken and raspberry citrus vinaigrette. Or the Beach Burrito ($9), containing roasted chicken, black beans and rice, mixed greens, sprouts, guacamole and mango salsa.

Count heirloom tomatoes, red peppers, mini squash, hummus, heart of palm, turkey, tofu, and fig balsamic and ginger soy vinaigrettes among other ingredients.

Try a cookie, too. Surprise, they've vegan! But trust me, with fine crisp and chew, they're almost as good as the real thing.