“Escapism to me is when you are able to free your mind with no ties. I believe this moving ball in the sky has always got a new spot to be explored...”
Maker, creator and thinker-upper(er) of good eats, we welcome Sam Jones (AKA @nomeatdisco) to the Ambassador team. A local legend, plant-based and mushroom mad, well-acquainted with the roam after flagging us down en route to The Big Feastival. He cooked up a storm, played the classics and got a groove on.
Sam’s a soulful producer of good food and good music—behind the decks or the stove. A true purveyor of good vibes… let’s hit it.
Sam Jones, what's your story?
“My name is Sam and I run the page NoMeatDisco. I started my page 5 years ago on a mission to craft plant-based dishes that even the most devoted carnivores can’t resist. I try to bring a chill, no-pressure vibe that eases people into the world of veggies. I’m very passionate about mushroom-heavy recipes—rich, meaty, and satisfying for anyone who loves their meat.
“I believe music and food live in perfect harmony… NoMeatDisco was created from a passion for music and its natural connection with food. Food brings people together, celebrating special occasions and fostering culture, all accompanied by music. This being said, I have DJ’d over the years as a hobby and I claim to have an incredibly eclectic taste in music you will no doubt love to get a groove on to!”
“There is nothing like eating what you’ve just cooked in the most beautiful setting surrounded by nature.”
A Passenger classic and one we ask all our ambassadors—what does Escapism mean to you?
“Escapism to me is when you are able to free your mind with no ties. I believe this moving ball in the sky has always got a new spot to be explored. How I enjoy exploring is getting into nature and going for a hike or going for a run on the trails and taking in all the smells, colours, sounds and textures that you don’t get in your day-to-day life. I’m a huge lover of cooking outdoors whilst hiking, there is nothing like eating what you’ve just cooked in the most beautiful setting surrounded by nature.”
If we gave you a handful of pins to stick in a map of places that mean the most to you, where would they land?
“I travelled for five years nonstop and this inspired me to cook the foods I do today. There is so much culture within food and music when you explore new countries. Vietnam very quickly became my first and favourite love when it comes to countries. I fully fell head over heels for the place. The people were so amazing, the country itself was just beautiful and the food was just insane! I’ve got to be honest, I hadn’t had much Vietnamese food before going there, so a lot of it was new to me.
“I feel like back then it wasn’t recognised as much as it is now in the Western world. All the food was so fresh, simple and delicious. I would get a bánh mì at almost every stall I would see, I remember them being something ridiculous like 50p for a big old roll packed with pate, fresh pickled veggies and your choice of meat; they were incredible. Then I took my Pho virginity… and Pho took my heart straight away. All the flavours in the broth are unmatched, then you have all the fresh herbs that you add to it, laced with some delicious rice noodles and your choice of meat or veg. A way to describe Vietnamese food for me is perfecting the flavours… keeping them fresh and not trying too hard. This works bloody well!”
What’s on the menu as we head into autumn… any standout eats?
“Lately I’ve been cooking lots of One Pot Recipes to help people have an easier experience in the kitchen with less mess. It’s also autumn right now, which means COSY SEASON. I’m a lover of spending heaps of time in the kitchen and paying lots of love, care and attention to a dish, but I do have a lot of time to spare… a lot of people don’t have the time, so I'm conscious of making peoples lives easier in the kitchen where I can.”
“The best tip someone ever gave me was to get outside at least once a day wherever you are…”
As a proper disco head, what’s on the rotation these days?
“I’ve actually just made one of the best playlists I’ve ever made on my Spotify for a pop-up collab with Tendril. It features some chilled rap, some slow jams, then goes through to some more melodic music, into a bit of Latin and then into some funk and disco, finishing with a bit of 90s rave. YES, this is how eclectic my music taste gets!”
And finally, any Escapism hacks & tips you’ve picked up along the way?
“I think the best tip someone ever gave me was to get outside at least once a day wherever you are, even if you really don’t feel like it, you’ll always feel better after. The clarity a simple walk in nature gives you is priceless.”
