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The best things in life... 1. Are simple. 2. Taste like summer. 3. Are better shared. 4. All of the above. 🍅🥒🧅🌿🍋🧂

For busy weeknights or a quiet weekend at home, this is the ultimate vegan lasagna recipe. Make it ahead of time and store it in the freezer to heat and eat whenever cravings strike. The secret is using high-protein @hodofoods tofu to make a rich, satisfying ricotta that won't water down your meal! Get the recipe and be sure to save it; I promise it'll be your new dinnertime staple. Check it out at bit.ly/hodolasagna

I'm just being a good citizen by conserving power and ordering delivery instead of heating up the kitchen, okay? Yeah, I got the warning from ERCOT, and while I have no doubt their top executives are blasting the AC in their brightly lit offices, I'll cut my losses and use the excuse to get more ap chao chay. I remain as obsessed as ever. If you missed it, I wrote a deep-dive about what makes these noodles so special. Read on at bit.ly/apchaochay

When @nextlevelburger opened up in Concord, I remember being distinctly unimpressed. That memory stayed with me, keeping me away, but now I regret that time apart because the Austin location is a whole different story. Located conveniently inside the North Lamar @wholefoods , you have the luxury of abundant, free, covered parking, and can get all your healthy groceries while you're there. I like to think of it as an incentive for the effort. Head down to the front of the store, by the salad bars, @amazon return center, and @juiceland outpost. What makes this place special is the people. I've never had such patient, friendly, and kind service even when the app is bugging out and no one can make it work. They will find a way to make it right. I'd wait any amount of time to get my hands on these amazing sandwiches, especially the crispy chicken! I know it's a burger place, but trust me, you NEED the crispy chicken. It's immaculately fried, resoundingly crunchy, comes on a soft and buttery bun, and has genuinely fresh, crisp veggies on top. It's just perfection. The onion rings also deserve a shout-out. Again, flawless crispy finish, and the onions are tender, so they don't end up pulling out of the batter like gross oniony worms. Get the chipotle mayo and dip to your heart's content. Yes, everything is vegan. No, it doesn't taste like it. Yes, you want to find out for yourself.

You know what's the best kind of burrito? The burrito that someone else makes for you. But... The burrito that someone else makes for you, filled with @justegg scramble, @beyondmeat sausage, hash browns, and all sorts of veggies? THAT is the best of the best. ❤️🌯

Sunday only comes once a week, and I've wasted entirely too many of them not going to @bistrovonish for brunch. The beastly heat makes it challenging to hang out in the otherwise lovely yard, filled with shaded tables, water bowls for the pups, and absolutely charming planters made from coffins. Don't let the immaculate decor distract you, though. You must get the French toast with a side of garbanzo scramble, ASAP. Every week it's a different seasonal flavor and I've never once been disappointed. This time, it's cherry, and served with real (!) maple syrup on the side. Balance that out with the savory goodness of noochy and all manner of veg mixed into tender chickpea curds, and it's the perfect plate/box. I'm looking forward to fall for the first time ever, if only to chill (literally) here more often.

No, those aren't flecks of ground vanilla beans, nutmeg, or any of the other usual suspects on top of these soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies. Give up? It's pepper! Ground black and Sichuan peppercorns, to be exact. I love the spicy undertone it adds, and the way it lightens the treat with such a bright, sharp finish. Want to take it to the next level? Try adding some orange zest, too. Hope you have a sweet weekend ahead, friends!

Happy National S'mores Day and Sandwich Month, all in one bite! I love a traditional s'mores of course, but it always ends up all over my hands, clothes, and primarily in my lap. The graham cracker base is destined to fail, so why not press all that goodness between more sturdy slices of bread? You can even sprinkle some graham cracker crumbs in the middle to get that flavor and crunch.

"Go Back To Cali" DOES feel like a personal attack, but in the case of @batcitypies , I'll accept the gentle insult because it's a damned good slice. It stacks up vegan cheese, artichokes, raw and roasted peppers, red onion, and olives with a marinara base on fat Detroit-style pizza dough. These hefty rectangles are thick, satisfying to sink your teeth into, and definitely good food value for the cost. This would easily serve two, or keep nicely to make a second meal for one. If you wanted to extend the meal with some salad because #health, it could be dinner for a family of four. They are not shy with the toppings, making each slice totally loaded with goodies. Happy to have an excellent alternative to and upgrade over Via 313, conveniently stationed at @buzzmillcoffee Riverside. Open late which is another rarity, midnight - 2am depending on the day.

Look, there IS good sense to be made from eating burnt food. As food browns, deeper and darker, it caramelizes sugars, rearranges amino acids, and creates rich umami flavors like nothing else. This? This takes it a step too far. Never walk away from your popcorn while it's popping, friends.

Discover the real secret ingredient to making the richest, most flavorful, absolute best vegan vanilla ice cream ever: @Shiitake_japan powdered shiitake mushrooms! Trust me, its not just another social media food stunt; you genuinely do need this in your life. Check it out through the direct link in my profile or copy/paste: https://bit.ly/shiitake-icecream

Everyone talks about the bowls and burritos that occupy the majority of the menu at @countercultureaustin , for good reason, but it does a real disservice to the mac and cheese. You can get it with all the same protein options and a veggie of your choice, although when offered "crispy mushrooms," there really is no other choice. As I tell everyone before making such a risky order, I'm very picky about mac and cheese, and this? This is one of the best I've had in a while. It's absolutely mind-blowing that the noodles are gluten-free; they're even chewier than classic wheat! It's just the right amount of gooey/sauce with a lightly toasted breadcrumb topping for contrast. It's rich but not unctuous, comforting but not heavy. It's everything you want in a mac and cheese, and nothing you don't

Admittedly, I forgot all about the prepared vegan tuna salad at @wholefoods made with @goodcatchfoods, but this delicious reminder makes me incredibly grateful that it's still being made. Distinctly fishy, in a good way, it has just the right balance of richness from the mayo and refreshing, light veggies. For best results, serve with pickles on soft white bread. Don't try to make it fancy- In fact, go ahead and just eat it with a fork. It doesn't need much else.

Lots of vegan alternatives claim to taste just like the original, but I can't say I've experienced anything that made me genuinely question whether or not my meal was plant-based. Until today. @Nextlevelburger has joined forces with @Meatifoods to make the most genuinely beefy burger I've ever had. For a limited time you can get the carne asada on loaded fries or an equally stacked burger; I'd recommend both. It has a completely believable texture that's juicy and rich, fatty and decadent enough to satisfy the most staunch omnivore. If it wasn't coming out of a completely meatless kitchen, I'd be worried. Combined with a nice kick of spice, gooey cheese, guacamole, and fresh pico, it has everything you're craving all in one big bite. So much love to NLB for treating me so well. Y'all knocked this one out of the park. 🍔🫶

When is a "bun" actually a noodle? In Vietnamese cuisine, of course. "Bun" is the word for vermicelli rice noodles, thin strands that support a wide variety of fresh veggies, pickles, crispy fried spring rolls, toasted peanuts, and tangy sauce. @MeConBistro takes out all the guesswork by offering the a plant-based version by the name of Vegan 512, adding tender seitan into the mix, too. It's an all-in-one bowl of savory goodness that never fails. Between all the textures, flavors, and colors, it's satisfying on every level. Maybe it would be even prettier plated in the restaurant, but even the to-go box isn't bad looking.