A couple of decades ago, eating out as a vegan meant you could 'look forward' to a salad of lettuce leaves and tomatoes, or for something a bit more 'exotic,' a jacket potato could be served – but hold the butter.
Now, with numbers of people following a vegan diet increasing dramatically, you can pop out and grab a vegan sausage roll or sandwich with ease.
In Queen's Court, at centre:mk one stall serves up fast, fresh takeaway food as standard – and once you've tried, you will definitely return!
The Vegan Chef has been on site for approaching two months with flavoursome dishes.
Yaw Asiyama is the man with the recipes and whips up taste sensations daily from his little hut.
He isn't vegan himself, so why the stall?
“During lockdown, some of my clients started experimenting with vegan and veggie food, and one client asked if I could give them the same flavours they have gotten used to from Better Than Mamma's, which is my event catering business. Of course I could, so I did!”
And the process has also had a positive impact on the chef...
“I am now eating more plant-based and going back to me old roots when I lived with my grandma – back then we only had meat on Sunday's and fish twice a week.
Most of the food was veggie, so cooking veggie was a cultural natural.”
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The fact that Yaw is more than a bit handy in the kitchen isn't a surprise when you learn that his mother had a couple of restaurants in Ghana. He picked up ideas from the chefs and recipes from his grandmother.
And like any decent chef, he loves creating new tasty plates: “I like to experiment and am always ready to try new concepts and ideas that pop into my head,” he said, “I think cooking is where art meets science and happy meets delicious.”
His bestselling dish is a lip-licking butterbean and mango curry, which Yaw invented for a vegan pal: “I have clients who order a tub a month...some have been doing that for 10 years!” he told Total MK.
“Everyone likes kelewele, which is Ghanaian street food – spiced ripe fried plantain...and my purple rain is a rising star, it's an aubergine and karli pepper stew with either a tomato or potato base.”
There is a set menu on offer daily, which Yaw supplements by offering his 'pot luck'.
“It is usually based on what vegetables are in season and what looks great over on the MK Market veggie store.
"Buying that way allows me the opportunity to play with new ideas and have fun with cooking.”
Yaw is looking at more ways to feed us vegan; he hopes that he will soon be able to deliver to local businesses, and is looking to start selling his dishes chilled so that you can enjoy at home.
And – thanks to a new service – you can now order your food in advance.
Give The Vegan Chef a call to sort your lunch on 07999 409191.
The Vegan Chef serves lunch between 11.15am and 4.30pm
Find him on FB and Instagram: @africanthevegan
