Interview by Elijah Attard, Head Chef at Perhaps Sammy & Co host of the Roots Hospitality podcast. @roots_hospitality
Nomad, 16 Foster Avenue, Surry Hills. @Nomad.sydney
I’ve all the time admired Kennedy’s philosophy to working. His hospitality first ethos actually shines via his presentation, whether or not it’s his personable contact, consideration to element or welcoming angle. Better of all, Kennedy has taken this and utilized it to each Beau and Nomad in Sydney.
And with Nomad’s tenth Birthday this month, an all-Australian spirit-led drinks menu is making its solution to showcase the spirit of Nomad’s journey via the final decade. This implies we will solely anticipate extra unbelievable issues if Jacqui Challinor is main the way in which. Fortunately for me, I’ve obtained the possibility to take a seat down with Kennedy and ?nd out extra.
It’s Nomad’s huge birthday and also you’re curating the drinks menu. How can we anticipate the menu to replicate the journey Nomad has been on and can proceed to go?
From the start, NOMAD’s drink menu has been curated to focus on the easiest of Australian produce. And the menu will solely proceed on this route. When deciding on suppliers, as a bunch we search for small, up-and-coming producers that enable us to showcase and work with the very best of Australian expertise. We create distinctive home cocktails with an ode to Australia that may solely be sipped and savoured at NOMAD.
What are some examples of cocktails that you’re proud to symbolize the Nomad story?
If in case you have heard of NOMAD, you could have heard of our wood-fired flatbread with Persian lime & wattleseed za’atar. With the flatbread being so entwined with the NOMAD title, I requested myself incorporate it right into a cocktail. Now a staple home cocktail, ‘The Antagoniser’ is garnished with the Za’atar from our signature flatbread to go with the smokey and spicy drink.
Beau is NOMAD Group’s new laneway restaurant 200 metres from NOMAD Sydney. Being a brief strolling distance up from our sister venue Beau to NOMAD, Google Maps says the stroll is ‘reasonably uphill’. In celebration of NOMAD’s tenth birthday, ‘Reasonably Uphill’ has hibiscus granita, a preferred ingredient amongst our desserts, that’s formed to symbolize a average hill Incline.
Why is utilizing solely Australian merchandise so essential at Nomad? Like Saison Vermouth popping out of Melbourne.
Identical to Saison Vermouth, NOMAD celebrates the bounty of every season. Australia’s huge and different landscapes supply unbelievable range in produce, permitting us to curate cocktails that align with our sustainability ethos and our continued dedication to being a testomony to the nation’s ardour for excellence.
Nomad Sydney itself has gone via rather a lot up to now few years. Does celebrating this milestone assist to reinvigorate the vibrato of the workforce going ahead?
We’ve had quite a bit occurring these previous few years! Our workforce at NOMAD Sydney; some have been with us since day one. It appears like residence, it’s completely my comfortable place and what has introduced a lot pleasure and celebration during the last 10 years. To do it with folks I really like and respect and name pals is simply the icing on the cake. I hope this reminds everybody our workforce and friends that we’re so lucky to achieve this milestone on this trade – I couldn’t be prouder!
From the early days, it feels as if since you acquired the assist of the folks and friends, you’ll be able to give again to those small producers. Are there any you’d like to say?
First, we wish to thank all of the small producers we now have labored with as all of them embrace the identical imaginative and prescient – there is no such thing as a planet b. An area producer we now have labored with repeatedly is Sluggish Lane Brewery, which makes use of old-world strategies to supply its beers. They’re comfortable to be “inefficient if it offers higher flavour”, as most trendy breweries have deserted in favour of environment friendly industrialised processes.
I might additionally like to say one in all our colleagues who grows his personal edible flowers. We use these to garnish our cocktails and iconic kingfish dish, which makes every NOMAD cocktail a tangible reflection of our dedication to sustainability.
I’ve observed some native elements on the menu, will this proceed to be an essential a part of the Australian ahead mindset being mirrored via the cocktail checklist?
Sure. Incorporating native elements into our cocktails can create a way of connection to the land. They’re distinctive in flavour and permit us to embrace the native bounty of our nation.
Ought to we anticipate some thrilling occasions over the course of the month to rejoice Nomad’s huge Birthday?
Sure! We’re bringing again the largest hits on our meals menu through the years, we now have some occasions within the pipeline, and we’re collaborating with an artist who may be very expensive to us (and has been from day one) on one thing particular for the month of October!
I’ve to complete on this one query – what was the funniest time you discovered your self most within the shit.
Nomad in a nutshell is absolutely the epitome of Australia. Having gone via the ?re however emerged stronger on the opposite aspect whereas being surrounded by a group who will assist you it doesn’t matter what. It actually sums up the comradery of the Aussie spirit. Thanks on your time!
