Welcome to Rebel Cheese
We are Kirsten Maitland and Fred Zwar, two people with a passion for vegan food - so much so, we would travel anywhere in the world to try new vegan delicacies.
We strongly believe in the transformative power of plant-based food because it can positively change our health, improve animal welfare, and reduce our impact on the planet.
But…it must taste good!
We started Rebel Cheese because we yearned to create picnics with artisan cheeses, indulge in a sandwich or pizza with meltable mozzarella, and to show people that vegan cheeses can taste just as good, if not better than their dairy counterparts.
Our goal is to prove to the world that less harmful alternatives can exist, by convincing people to give plant based diets a try, even if only for a couple days a week.
what is vegan cheese?
our impact
So how does a vegan deli, cheese, and wine shop impact the earth and animal agriculture? By avoiding animal products, we’ve helped to lessen the demand on industries that inherently exploit and overuse precious resources & beings.
in just one year, we saved…
1,118,016
gallons of water
41,752
eggs
15,752
lbs of dairy cheese
10
cows (2571 lbs of cow products)
79
hens from laying and slaughter
5
turkeys
37
pigs (5675 lbs of pig products)
our 1st year in review
From a roaring opening, to closing and reinventing our business just 5 months later (alongside every other business in the world) - we know we are one of the lucky ones to have survived. We are beyond grateful to be in a position to celebrate our tremendous team and community, and to look toward an even brighter future.
Over this year, we've begun to find our voice for causes and social justice issues, we co-hosted a spectacular Pig Pageant, and we were crowned the Best New Restaurant in Austin. We've collaborated with chefs, food creators, and experts all over the country. Along the way, we've made some dang good food and made even better friends.
We don't take a single moment, accolade, review, or order for granted. We're here today because YOU have chosen to support us and keep coming back.
We hope, above all, that Rebel Cheese has brightened some of your darker days, has helped you to appreciate the small moments, and has brought you a little closer (even if distanced) to those you love.
To our team members, customers, vendors, and supporters, thank you.
Year in review for Rebel Cheese, vegan cheese and deli shop in Austin, Texas. Video clips courtesy videezy.com, Videvo.com, Karolina Grabowska/Pexels, Fox Ne...
Let customers speak for us
Delicious cheese!
This is the only thing I've tried from my order so far but it is delicious!
Customer
Gruyere
Unbelievably Good
I have been plant-based for 4.5 years. I still crave a good cheese product. I have tried all of the offerings available in the local grocery stores, but none have a pleasing texture or taste and few are healthy as they are typically made from oil. This brie cheese is revolutionary.......made of cashews, 1g saturated fat per serving, and the texture is spot-on!!!!! I now crave the Rebel Cheese Brie!!!!!
Kelly S.
Brie
Best Ever Fromage!
We are loving this Balsamic Fig & Walnut Fromage! We use it on sandwiches, spread on crackers and our friends are amazed at the taste. They don't even realize it isn't dairy cheese until just before leaving and I mention it. They are shocked, but good shocked! LOL
Kris V.
Balsamic Fig & Walnut Fromage
Rebel Cheese is so Delicious
I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious Rebel Cheese is. I love cheese, and after transitioning to a plant-based diet, it was the one thing I missed most. Rebel Cheese is costly but I feel this is something I need in my life and will be a regular customer.
Gloria C.
Rebel Cheese
Delivered its promise!
I just received my order of cheese and I'm only opening one or two at a time because of the quicker expiration once you've started using it. I melted it into my scrambled eggs and it was indescribably perfect. I look forward to reviewing the rest of my order. Excellent service, anytime I had a question regarding even the most trivial detail about my order, I was promptly answered in a kind, courteous, and professional manner. I really can't wait to try the rest of my order!
Customer
Pimento Cheese (Spicy)
My son even likes it!
So vegan cheese in general is not fantastic; however, this is great. I had my son and husband try it as well, and my son asked for more. My husband told me it's the best vegan cheese i've given him :) Can't wait to try more types.
Customer
Smoked Cheddar
The best vegan cheese ever
I almost cried when I tasted it! No more “sort of tastes like cheese.” No more feeling guilty over the plight of animals. This is so wonderful!
Jeneba C.
Rebel Cheese
OMG!!! Bacon with no Bacon!!!!! Our prayers are answered!
When I became a vegan, the only food I missed was cheese. I miss it no more, thanks to REBEL!!!!!
Desha P.
Bacon Scallion Spread
Best plant based cheese shop out there!
I've been ordering from Rebel Cheese for years and every year they surprise me with the quality of their cheeses.
If you're ever in Austin, its worth visiting!
Simon
Rebel Cheese
The plant-based cheese alternative we've been waiting for
I've always known some great food scientists were out there working on ways to culture plant fats the way we do animal fats to make cheese. The folks at Rebel Cheese have done that and the results are spectacular. We're particularly fond of the Tomato Herb Fromage, Brie, Pepper Jack, Parmesan, and the Truffle Chèvre. We've already turned on some of our friends to these cheeses and we're newly loyal customers!
Chris &.A.S.
Rebel Cheese
I love it!
This is amazing. I stopped eating dairy over 50 years ago, and this truffle Brie is absolutely delicious! Thank you for creating such a wonderful product that is made with quality ingredients. I will be sharing this with my non vegan friends, but they only get a tiny taste lol! Just enough to prove that they can enjoy vegan cheese. 😊
Janet B.
Truffle Brie
Yummy!
My daughter who is vegan loves this! She said she could have eaten the whole tube in one sitting! It was a hint too spicy for me but I thought it was really yummy in small quantities.
Customer
Buffalo Blue Cheese Dip (Spicy)
Really good
Third chees I’ve tried. Consistency of this harder cheese is good. Appetizing and reminds me more of an older cheddar. Shredded some to use on nachos. It didn’t melt despite 3.5 minute on high in the microwave but the flavour was excellent! And I am happy to have a non dairy option that tastes like my old quick nachos with old cheddar. Would buy it again. Just wish these packages were bigger. Took almost a whole piece to do one dinner sized plate of nachos.
Stephanie M.
Colby Jack
Super creamy dreamy Brie
This Brie is better than most actual dairy bries I’ve had. The only difference for me was that cold dairy Brie has a slight elasticity. But there was NO flavour difference at all IMO. I am so glad I found this company. I developed a dairy allergy and this most definitely satisfies my craving for a quality Brie. Will 100% be ordering again.
Stephanie M.
Brie
Taste awesome, I was shocked.. I'm not vegan but trying, so I was so surprise at the taste.
Rhonda D.
Bacon Scallion Spread
