After my near-crisis was averted, I realized how extremely
hungry I was. But where would I get some much-needed amazing grub? I happened
to be in the North Campus neighborhood of Austin, TX, and there happens to be
more than just a few options in that area that more than fit the bill for
“much-needed amazing grub.”
What is it about stress that makes me so hungry anyway??
That’s a whole other post…
Anyway, my mom and I glanced through the various listings
for restaurants in the area on our phones. How high-tech of us. After reading several
reviews and scanning menus for about 5 different places, we both settled on a
place that really stood out from the rest: FoodHeads.
Apparently, FoodHeads has been making sandwiches in
Austin for over 20 years, and the reviews my mom and I quickly glanced over
basically said that if you want an awesome, original and high quality sandwich
on fresh bread, this was THE place to go. Well, since my favorite food is
sandwiches, I figured that this would be just right.
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| Source: Me |
As soon as I laid my eyes on this place from the passenger
seat of the car, I knew we’d made a good decision on coming here. I could feel
it in my bones. I trust my gut feelings when it comes to eating and restaurants
and I had a very good gut feeling about this one.
FoodHeads is sited in an old converted house, right off
Guadalupe next to the UT campus. I must say, this place is plain adorable. I
can almost see this café being the backdrop in the next nostalgic feel-good
movie of the summer. I’m thinking something like another My Girl or perhaps something more like Now & Then.
After we found parking, we made our way around to the front,
I was able to properly take in this converted house. The exterior is adorned with
stringed lights and something I’d never seen before: free-hanging windows on
the outdoor patio.
They have plenty of outdoor seating, which I loved. There’s
something about enjoying a delicious meal outside on a patio that is like
nothing else. There’s even an area where some quirky old lawn furniture was
situated around a mini fire pit, ideal for the brisk nights we’re starting to
see here in the Austin area.
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| Cute, right? Source: Me |
When we stepped inside the old house, the first thing I
noticed was what appeared to be organized chaos at its finest. Little white boxes with colorful tissue
paper were stacked around the dining area, and people were carefully setting
what I later learned were wrapped sandwiches in the boxes with various sauces
and condiments.
Oh yeah! I’d read that they were a catering company too. My
mom asked who we now know to be the owner, what was going on. I wasn’t paying
attention, I was exercising my “staring problem”. I couldn’t stop ogling at all
that happening. She filled me in later; he explained they were filling a few
different catering orders, adding up to over 200 box lunches. WOW. And no, they weren’t all the same
sandwich. They were filling 200 custom orders, and I know one sandwich order
went above and beyond and was ordered deconstructed… I bet that was annoying…
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| So cool Source: me |
After we were done being stunned by how orderly they were
filling their catering orders, I was able to notice how beyond charming the café is. It’s full of truly unusual furniture. There are old and new kitchen
tables, some painted, some unpainted and some that were once painted but have
since faded mixed in with nicked end tables and… I think I even saw an old
classroom desk. It didn’t end there. There was quite a bizarre assortment of eclectic,
miss-matched chairs. I also loved the exposed hardwood floors… I have a thing
for hardwood floors. FoodHeads for sure has that decidedly Austin vibe that is
everything but ordinary.
Time to order! Thank GOODNESS we already perused the menu,
because all of these sandwiches sounded absolutely amazing. I’m not just saying
that, I swear. They all had fresh and interesting ingredients, which seem to
have resulted in some truly unique items and all of the sandwiches are built on
fresh bread that I learned is delivered to the café daily.
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| I ordered from the Fancy menu ;) Source: me |
Since I studied the menu beforehand, I’d already narrowed my
options to two and it saved me from getting all overwhelmed and flustered.
Yeah, I get overwhelmed when prompted with a large array of sandwiches… and
salads…and soups... This generally results in ordering something that I would
never think get on a normal day. Being a nervous orderer isn’t one of my best
qualities, but I’ve learned how to deal and have adapted. This is why I do research in advance.
But that’s neither here nor there… Just then, something
caught my eye. I had taken my phone out of my purse to capture a quick picture
of the interior, when I saw what time it was…. WHAT?? It was only 10:50 a.m.??
Great…. I was totally afraid that they were going to force
me into a muffin or a breakfast taco. I am NOT a breakfast person, unless of
course that breakfast happens to be a sandwich…
So, in a totally whiny voice I asked the woman taking our
order if I HAAADDD to have breakfast. She smiled and told me that I could have
anything off the menu.
Whew. Close call!
I placed my order for the Chicken & Eggplant sandwich, filled
with grilled chicken breast & roasted eggplant on toasted multigrain bread with
goat cheese, basil pesto, spinach, tomato & blackberry balsamic
vinaigrette. I had never heard of chicken and eggplant on the same sandwich and
I learned my lesson a few weeks ago about passing up pesto. Never again. This
time I’m too far away to just swing by and remedy my mistake! I also requested
both the homemade ice-box pickles and salad slaw on the side.
My mom ordered the Chicken Special, stacked grilled chicken
breast on toasted telera bread with lettuce, tomato, avocado, feta cheese and
tarragon mayonnaise. She ordered
the mayo on the side, as she tends to do.
She chose coffee for her beverage and I decided on Topo
Chico Mineral Water. I love Topo Chico and I love places that have it as an
option. The glass bottle with fizzy water just makes me so happy.
My mom and I made the executive decision to sit outside
since it was a TRULY lovely morning. The sun was out and filtered nicely
through the trees that lined this once residential street. On our way out the
door to find a spot on the porch, we noticed a bookshelf full of cooking
magazines.
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| Ahh, what a lovely morning! And I do love the hanging windows. Source: Me |
GASP!!! Taste of Home?!
I hadn’t seen a Taste of Home Magazine
for a long time, and yeah, I got excited. What can I say? I’m a unique individual. We scooped up a few magazines and settled
in to our seats at a heavy wooden table.
After a short wait, our sandwiches were delivered to our
table and my goodness! They don’t skimp here. There was PLENTY of chicken, a generous
quantity of veggies, and a copious amount of cheese all stacked high, nestled in
the beautiful bread.
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| Chicken & Eggplant Sandwich Source: Me |
My sandwich was constructed between thick slices of light multi-grain
bread that smelled wonderfully nutty. The chicken was grilled and golden,
speckled with cracked black pepper. The meat was stacked on top of a thick
slice of marinated eggplant. The spinach was a dark emerald green and
contrasted beautifully with the bright and juicy tomatoes. The basil pesto’s
aroma was beyond intoxicating. The seductive smell of sweet basil with salty Parmesan
melded with the tangy goat cheese in such a distinctly inciting way.
 |
| Another view of Chicken & Eggplant Source: me |
The first bite was packed full of flavor. The chicken was
perfectly cooked, and not at all dry. The spongy eggplant soaked in the
blackberry balsamic vinaigrette, adding a sweet and tart element that was a
perfect pair with the bright veggies and pungent sauce and cheese. The bread
was chewy and held up nicely to the pile of ingredients packed in between.
 |
| Mmmmm Source: Me |
My mom’s sandwich was built between thick slices of Terla
bread. The bread had nice golden crust that was dusted with flour. It resembled
a French baguette in both smell, and appearance. The chicken was piled on top
of some fresh avocado and some of the same bright red tomatoes that adorned my
sandwich. Under the tomatoes was a thick layer of tangy, crumbled feta cheese.
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| The Chicken Special Source: Me |
Tip: If you want sandwich slaw & pickles as your sides,
request these when you order, otherwise you’ll get a scoop of what appeared to
be creamy and delicious homemade potato salad. But if you, like my mom, really
want the slaw and pickles, a server will gladly bring them to you.
 |
| Icebox Pickles & Salad Slaw Source:me |
Anyway, I was lucky enough to get a bite of hers, and wow!
This sandwich lacked nothing when it came to flavor. The buttery avocado
contrasted with the warm and juicy chicken, and the cheese added a sharp, tangy
and tasty element to the other flavors. This sandwich didn’t need anything
added from the tarragon mayo, but I bet it would have provided a nice herby and
creamy component as a backdrop to the other flavors.
As we fell into silence over these beautifully crafted
sandwiches, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude for that
moment. This day started out in a really stressful and potentially horrendous
way, but my lunch at 10:00 a.m. gave me a chance to breathe, and look at how
truly blessed I am.
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| SO stuffed! SO good! Source: Me |
I hope to get the opportunity to get back up to the North
Campus area soon, for another wonderful experience and truly amazing sandwich at FoodHeads.
Wanna Go?
616 W. 34th St.
Austin, TX 78705
Austin, TX 78705
When?
Mon-Wed: 7AM – 4PM
Thurs – Sat: 7AM –
9PM
Call.
512-420-8400
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