Meet Courtney Lindsay: Chef

We had the good fortune of connecting with Courtney Lindsay and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Courtney, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting Houston Sauce Co. was driven by my decision adopt a vegan lifestyle. I wanted to bring vegan food to life much how had done in the past with meat dishes. I wanted to hit all my major marks with 100% vegan menu items which included presentation, smell, texture, and of course flavor.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started cooking while in college on the campus of Texas Southern University. After graduation I joined the Army as a Combat Camera Production Specialist, but I’d still cook in my down time. After four years in the Army, I decided to come back to my hometown of Houston, Tx. and pursue cooking full time by trying to work at one of the best restaurants in town as well as enroll in culinary school. In addition to school, I also took a position as an Oil & Gas Recruiter and was given an opportunity to work at a popular brunch spot with a serving kitchen the size of a walk-in closet. Working in such a small kitchen gave me a huge edge when attending culinary school. I literally ran circles around some of the other students – I learned that a small space sometimes comes with a larger reward. So, when I made the decision to transition from corporate America, working in a food truck was right in line with my experience. The hardest part of my transition was saying yes to my purpose and my dreams. The reality is, that dreams look good until they become reality. The road to your dreams and purpose are not easy but well worth it. My wife and I were able to create a vegan brand that piques interest from meat-eaters and vegans alike. I feel that the best is yet to come in the journey of our brand and vegan cuisine. I am just grateful to be a part of the vegan movement in Houston and hopefully the country soon.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The number one spot on my list would be Houston Sauce Co. I would then take them my BBQ concept, operated by my business partner, Houston Sauce Pit. Then next location would have to be the comfort of my own home. While I love traveling about the city, I also love hosting and spending time serving family and friends. Now if I want to really show them a nice time, I’d take them to my family’s absolute favorite Cantonese restaurant, Ginger and Folk, which has a pretty dope vegan selection and a secret, off the menu selection that’s amazing!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to shout out my Muse, my wife Chasitie Lindsay. She is a source of artistic inspiration when it comes the creation of most of our dishes. The menu concepts are mainly birthed out of her insatiable need to have familiar foods that just happen to be vegan. My catering to that need was the only way that she could remain vegan in the beginning. She constantly pushed me to create and think outside the box. She would say something like; “I think I want boudain balls tonight”, and with the pressure of a potential backhand on her part, I’d get in the kitchen and create.

Website: www.houstonsauceco.com
Instagram: @houstonsauceco
Twitter: @houstonsauceco
Facebook: houstonsauceco
Yelp: Houston Sauce Co