I started Nomads in January of 2018 as a mobile vegan street food vendor and caterer based in Weybridge. Inspired from my travels around the world as a full-time musician in a touring rock band (Young Guns), I got to experience lots of flavours and dishes from the different types of cuisines. Being a massive foodie, I knew that I had to channel that passion in cooking and share my recipes with everyone, so I decided to create the business, buy the equipment and start applying for markets in and around Surrey.
Tips for starting your vegan journey...
1. Create alternatives
I have always loved hot sandwiches, so the idea was to create vegan alternatives of a famous sandwich ‘The Philly Cheesesteak’, or taking inspiration from a dish/recipe that we all know and love, such as a Sunday roast. Either creating something completely original or a well-known alternative, that was made fresh using quality ingredients and freshly sourced artisanal bread.
2. Start replacing certain products
Start by making small changes in your diet and the everyday products you may use on a daily basis. There are so many great alternatives to everything you are currently used to, all it takes is a little bit of research and you will find the right alternative.
3. Make little changes
I really enjoyed buying vegan sausages for the first time and being surprised how good they tasted. You don’t have to go in the deep end straight away, make little changes, take it in your own time and don’t let anyone else influence your decisions or tell you otherwise.
4. Know your reasons
It’s your own journey and you need to take it one step at a time so that you can sustain those changes over a longer period. My personal outlook is that anyone that wants to make a change in their life towards a more vegan lifestyle, however small it may be, is doing great things for the cause.
5. Cook in batches
Vegan cooking can be easy if you dedicate some time and effort into it. If you are short of time, pick a day, like a Sunday to make a batch of food for the week. Even if it’s just one dish, like big chilli, which you can save for another day. When I cook, I usually make more than just the first meal so I can save another portion for a later date. I do this with most of my dinners so I'm always sorted for another day. Cooking in batches saves time and money.
6. Find your dish
I love curry! They are always versatile and allow for different ingredient combinations. I make my own seitan for Nomads so I like to use the ingredient for many different dishes. If you cut the slices finely, add a marinade you can crisp them up like bacon on a frying pan, and make a great vegan BLT. I also love Mexican, especially crunchy tacos. Using the Quorn vegan fish fingers, I make a great fish taco using homemade onion pickle, dill mayo and crunchy lettuce and coriander. I also make a mean chilli bowl too!
7. Know your spots
There’s a huge gap in the market for a fully vegan food establishment in Surrey. But it’s a good sign to see big chain restaurants like Pizza Express, Wagamama and local pubs such as The Oatlands Chaser and The Minnow introducing vegan dishes to their menus; making it easier for vegans to eat out, and eat well. I’ve met some amazing vegan food traders at the Surrey Vegan Market and hopefully one day one of these traders will create their own restaurant.
Owner of Nomad Eats, Simon Mitchell
