Wheatsville Co-op: Vegan Austin TX

This post could easily be called "Vegans are enormous foodie nerds who like to go to HFSs while they travel," but the Wheatsville Co-op is more than just a HFS; it's like a super HFS with a bonus deli and bakery, etc.

 

We went to both Wheatsville locations (Guadalupe and South Lamar) during our short stay in Austin and I'd be lying if I told you I remembered which this was. So, here's a dark pic of one of them, followed by the highlights from both.

Sweet & Sara!

Treeline cheese!

Impeccably lined shelves!

Fresh-baked 3Cs!

Found this local hot sauce, yellowbird, and fell in love.

My first haul.

Organic kale for $1.50!

But, the highlight for me was the vegan-friendly deli...

where I got this beauteous sandwich of southern fried tofu served on a Wheatsville Bakehouse French roll with Vegenaise and all the veggies.

It's even more impressive from the cross-section view:

I was not as impressed by this sparkling water that we saw just about everywhere in TX, but to each his own.

Read more about Wheatsville and definitely plan a visit if you find yourself in Austin; you won't be disappointed.

Yellow Bird Sauce Habanero Condiment

I really need to start blogging a series of recaps of my recent trip to Texas; what better place to ease in than with my new favorite hot sauce?  Meet Yellow Bird Sauce Habanero Condiment!

Here I was, wandering around the Wheatsville co-op...

full-disclosure, it was the other wheatsville co-op

When I came upon this:

The ingredients were unique and especially appealing.

Let's face it, that bird was too.

I was tired and full so I couldn't bring myself to taste the samples provided, but I still wanted to "Be the bird" (if you read about the bird, it turns out that I already am).  So, I bought the huge bottle in the hopes that it would be great.

An interesting factoid is that I'd already walked through an entire hot sauce shop in Austin, not found anything enticing (besides a non-vegan Maker's Mark hot sauce), and left mind-bogglingly empty-handed.  It was a travesty; I like to find new hot sauces on vacation.

So I was especially glad that Yellow Bird was part of my first Wheatsville haul!

yep, those are veeps!

I wrapped it ever so carefully, brought it home in my suitcase, and tried it on an otherwise unimpressive post-vacation meal: an Amy's samosa burrito over rice and peas.

And you know what?  That was the best Amy's burrito I've ever had.  Score!

no offense to Amy's burritos

Next I tried it in butternut squash soup, wherein it blended in seamlessly- both in color and texture.

After that I was just squirting it on everything.  Potatoes and onions:

Brussels sprouts...

Corn...

It's no wonder it only took me 3 days to consume a significant portion of the bottle; I obviously need to simma.

I highly recommend that you go get some, but note: unlike most hot sauces, Yellow Bird has to be refrigerated after opening.

 

Be the bird.