Life-long foodies turned vegan, Kirsten Maitland and Fred Zwar brought their creation of artisan, vegan cheese to a storefront in the Mueller area of Austin, known as Rebel Cheese, five years ago this October.

The details

Born from memories of past picnics enjoyed and holiday charcuterie spreads, Maitland and Zwar reimagined a food experience with dairy-free cheese made from plants.

"We began a mission to fulfill the Swiss-style holes in our hearts, but nothing on the market could live up," the owners wrote on their website.

The fromagerie uses four ingredients in their cheese: cashews, water, salt and cultures. Offerings include brie, smoked cheddar, pimento and more.