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Popped perfection at Cornucopia

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Born in Austin, Matthew left soon thereafter and finally made it back after years of paying his penance wandering the earth. Before coming to Austin360, Matthew co-edited Austinist.com, worked as an advertising copywriter and led tours of the Roman Forum, among other things.

When not busy pounding away on his keyboard, he can be found at book readings, concerts, gelaterias, pizza joints, Barton Springs, movie theaters, the golf course, or home with a book. The M.O. gives readers a little insight into the world of this man without a plan.

The entry titled "Popped perfection at Cornucopia."

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Home > The M.O. > Archives > 2009 > April > 06 > Entry

By Matthew Odam | Monday, April 6, 2009, 09:20 PM

Man can not live on popcorn alone. Or so one would assume. But after a few minutes inside the wonderful little popcorn store Cornucopia, I begin to question that assertion.

With flavors such as loaded baked potato, pesto and s’mores, I started to get the feeling that I could simply eat popcorn for every meal. Sure, my doctor would frown, but maybe not my dentist.

When we entered the space at 1914 Guadalupe St. (adjacent to Veggie Heaven) Monday morning, I was immediately overwhelmed with the familiar smells of a sweet breakfast. Turns out the smell was coming from cinnamon rolls. Well, cinnamon roll flavored popcorn, anyhow. And the taste was as rich and robust as the aroma.

Cornucopia opened for business in August 2008, but the kernel of the idea had been around for more than a dozen years when then high school students Nikki Dugas and Nadia Elhaj met for the first time in the Woodlands.

At the time, they simply knew that one day they wanted to be partners in some sort of venture, but it would take over a decade, as the two finished college and traveled the world, before they finally landed on the idea of opening a shop dedicated to the delicious goodness of the whole grain corn in all of its popped, gourmet splendor.

Dugas came across an online ad for popcorn equipment and decided that the idea seemed just silly and simple enough to pull off. With some serious elbow grease, a nice DIY aesthetic and a wealth of recipes and popping knowledge passed down from a former popper, the two ladies opened for business and began bringing over three dozen varieties of popcorn to Austin.

The majority of the business’ income comes from corporate sales, but after talking to the two women who have more energy than the kernels bouncing around frantically in their store’s kettles, it is obvious the owners’ real joy comes from spending time together and interacting with the customers, many of whom they make converts to some of their favorite flavors. Dill pickle flavored popcorn, anyone? Um, yes, please.

With a new trailer located on South Congress Avenue, the ladies have already expanded their popcorn empire, also offering delivery to those who can’t make it to their two locations. But to forego a trip to one of the locations is to miss out on what makes the enterprise so enjoyable. Sure, fresh popcorn that comes in every flavor imaginable, is treat enough, but the ability to sample to your heart’s and stomach’s content while the girls riff on everything from their favorite customers to imagined flavors is a treat in and of itself.

If the idea of gourmet popcorn sounds tantalizing, stop by Cornucopia’s location on The Drag on Tuesday, April 7 for their monthly free popcorn day and try it for yourself.

Cornucopia [site]
1914 Guadalupe St. Suite B [map]
477.2676

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