Austin Warren Coats’ Taco Pasta: A Dancer’s Fuel

austin Warren Coats is a self-proclaimed pasta enthusiast. “I love carbs,” says the Ronald K.Brown/EVIDENCE dancer. “I grew up doing gymnastics,and I ate a lot of spaghetti for fast energy. As I’ve gotten older, I love how easy pasta is to make and how you can add whatever you want.”

Coats enjoys exploring different recipes, finding inspiration from friends, family, and food Instagram accounts. He uses these as starting points to experiment with his favorite flavors. “I realized that pasta sauce and salsa are both tomato-based,” says Coats, “so I could use taco flavors from chorizo and salsa instead.”

When he’s not rehearsing or touring, Coats focuses on his food budget. He aims to spend between $30 and $50 on groceries each week, favoring dishes that yield four or five servings. He frequently brings a container of his taco pasta to rehearsal for lunch, adding a splash of water before microwaving. “As this pasta sits in the refrigerator, it develops flavor over time,” says Coats.