The Renegades Do It Again

As soon as I heard the Renegades of Sunset were back, open for take-out at Industry City, a visit went to the top of my list. In my head and in my belly I was making the pilgrimage for the beloved Fried Chicken Sandwich. (You remember? The winner of my Fried Chicken Battle.) But even when I was reminded that was a Saturday-only menu item, I tried to order it! 😂 Part denial / part not knowing what day it was. So I got the opportunity to try their brand new menu offering: The Giuseppe

Like the namesake, the sandwich is an Italian classic. As it sat in front of me, the smell was the first to hit me. It smelled like the San Genaro Feast and the grilled onion and peppers you can smell all the way down the block. But this one I could partake in–and would so ravenously. So they make the sweet Italian sausage from scratch… there’s those essential sautéed peppers and onions… their own housemade mozzarella (!!)… marinara sauce & fresh basil on a sesame seed hero.

Though I watched a Renegade make it, I really don’t know how they do it. Well, I guess I do. They make the seitan-based sausage by hand and so they can attend to its texture and its flavor–both of which blew me away. The sausage was not dense, not rubbery as seitan can easily be. The moisture level, the chew, may be its shining glory….

but then there’s the flavor. Let that fennel seed tell you that it is taken seriously, tried and true. And it was delicious, as it would be on its own on a plate. But then add their own mozzarella. The grilled veggies. Then add marinara on both sides of the bun, making that nostalgic Italian bread and sauce orange-y pink, making the very less bite just as delicious. So. Damn. Good.

I got to try their bacon too! Cut from a big slab of marbled seitan and fried, the end result of this scratch made item was completely different in texture and taste than the sausage. Having a bite on the side allows me to see how skillfully they can manipulate taste and texture.

Later, a humungo bakery-style chocolate chip cookie. Sweet and savory, it’s a done deal. The Renegades of Sunset are a cut about the rest, crafting thoughtful vegan fare with the sky-high standards. ❤️